Amid the continuous downpour and subsequent flooding, people in Vadodara, one of the worst-hit districts, are also dealing with the issue of crocodiles, which have been coming out of the Vishwamitri river with 15 such incidents reported within a span of three days. The forest department along with NGO volunteers have rescued at least 14 crocodiles between August 26 and August 29. One crocodile was found dead, said the officials. A 14-feet-long reptile rescued near the Kamnath Mahadev temple, located just 100 metres from the river, whose videos were widely shared on social media platforms, is the largest crocodile to be saved. It is believed to be 23-year-old. Soon after getting information, the forest department officials and volunteers on Thursday reached the spot. Even though the personnel struggled initially, they were eventually successful in containing it in a cage and transporting the animal to a safe place along the river bank for releasing it back into the Vishwamitri river. The Vishwamitri river, on whose banks the Vadodara city is built, is a natural habitat of the Mugger or Marsh Crocodile. As the flood waters inundated the city, the crocodiles were seen across Vadodara city as well as rural areas. Vadodara Range Forest Officer Karan Singh Rajput confirmed that three crocodiles were rescued from Sama Talav area, two from Kamatibaug, and one each from Varasiya Lake, Makarpura, Sayajigunj, Kamnath Mahadev temple, Ram Bazaar, MSU Department of Zoology, Jalaram temple, Akota police line, Waghodia and Kala Ghoda. “No person was harmed but one crocodile was found dead on Waghodia road and looking at the injuries, it looks like the animal was involved in a road accident,” said Rajput.
