Bhubaneswar: A crocodile was spotted roaming near a railway track close to Patakhaman village in Redhakhol block of Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Monday evening, triggering panic among local residents, a villager said.
According to local resident Raju Pradhan, the crocodile was spotted between 8 pm and 9 pm when he was returning from his agricultural field.
“I spotted a crocodile roaming near the railway track while returning from my agricultural field around 8-9 pm. A train was approaching from the Redhakhol side at the time. When we shouted, the crocodile moved into the nearby forest,” Pradhan said.
He said the villagers subsequently informed the Forest Department, following which officials reached the spot and launched a search operation to locate and rescue the reptile.
The crocodile is estimated to be around seven to eight feet long, according to the villager.
However, the circumstances under which the reptile reached the area near the village and railway track remain unclear.
The sighting has raised concerns among local residents, particularly over the safety of people travelling along the road and those visiting nearby agricultural fields.
Residents have been advised to maintain a safe distance from the area and refrain from approaching, surrounding or attempting to capture the crocodile.
The rescue operation was underway, and further details about the crocodile’s capture were awaited.
