Bhubaneswar: Floodwaters have brought a new threat to the flood-hit areas of Kendrapara district – crocodiles. In the Pattamundai block, many crocodiles have been spotted roaming in the floodwaters, particularly in the Brahmani river and surrounding villages. The fear of these reptiles has gripped the villagers, who are already struggling to cope with the deluge.
The situation is dire, with 12 panchayats in the Aul block affected by the floodwaters of the Brahmani, Kharasrota, and Kani rivers. Communication has been cut off in 10 panchayats of the Dhoya area, and thousands of acres of farmland are submerged. The Manpur-Gobindpur road, which connects the Dhoya area in Pattamundai, is inundated with 7 feet of water, and boats are being used to navigate the village streets.
The villagers are facing immense hardship, with many villages underwater for the past three days. The fear of crocodiles is adding to their woes, especially at night. To protect themselves, the villagers are gathering in one place, armed with sticks and other makeshift weapons.
The situation is equally dire in the Rajnagar area, where five panchayats have been flooded, and about 30 villages are cut off from the outside world. The authorities need to take immediate action to mitigate the suffering of the flood-affected people and address the threat posed by the crocodiles.
