Jajpur: A 61-year-old labourer was critically injured after being attacked by a crocodile while bathing in the Kharasrota river at Jokadia village in Jajpur district on Wednesday.
The injured has been identified as Gurucharan Dehuri, a resident of Harichandanpur village in Keonjhar district. He had reportedly come to Jokadia along with his wife to work as a daily wage labourer engaged in groundnut harvesting.
According to reports, the incident occurred in the afternoon when Gurucharan went to the river to bathe. While he was in the water, a crocodile suddenly attacked him from behind. He struggled for a considerable time before managing to free himself from the reptile’s jaws.
Hearing his screams, local residents rushed to the spot and rescued him in a severely injured and blood-soaked condition.
Gurucharan sustained deep injuries to his chest, with profuse bleeding. His back and areas around his ears were also badly torn in the attack.
He was initially admitted to the Jajpur Road Community Health Centre for primary treatment and later referred to the District Headquarters Hospital in Jajpur for further medical care. His condition is stated to be critical.
