Vadodara:

Nearly 40 crocodiles have been rescued from residential neighbourhoods in Gujarat’s Vadodara as floodwaters recede and authorities start rehabilitation work. Teams of the forest department and NGOs have joined hands to rescue crocodiles and other animals and prevent man-animal conflict as the city limps to normalcy.

Amid the rescue operation, a video showing two men transporting a crocodile on a scooter has now gone viral. While one man is riding the scooter, the pillion rider holds the crocodile horizontally. The two have been identified as Sandeep Thakor and Raj Bhavsar. They are involved in animal rescue activities in Vadodara’s Manjalpur and were on their way to the forest department office to hand over the crocodile when the video was shot.

Vadodara is located on the banks of Vishwamitri river, home to a large number of crocodiles. The flood had sent the animals into many residential localities.

Agneeshwar Vyas, Deputy Conservator of Forests in Vadodara Social Forestry Division, told NDTV that 40 crocodiles were found in the city’s localities after the floods. “We have released 33 back into their natural habitat river, five are in the rescue centre and two have died an accidental death,” he said. “During floods, when animals get dispersed, there is a possibility of accidental death,” the officer explained.

Mr Vyas said he is the district wildlife warden and is overseeing animal rescue operations in Vadodara. “We have formed teams of NGOs and volunteers working under the supervision of forest department staff. When we get a call on the helpline, the nearest team rushes to the spot and tries to rescue the animal,” he said.

The forest officer said it is a challenging task. “Crocodiles are carnivores and strong animals. And the options to restrain them are limited. They cannot be tranquilised, so they have to restrained physically,” he said.

Earlier, Vadodara Range Forest Officer Karansinh Rajput told news agency PTI that the forest department has also rescued snakes and turtles from residential areas close to the river.

Several crocodiles were also rescued in Ahmedabad’s Godhra. At a market on the highway, a massive crocodile and a baby crocodile were spotted late last night. The fire department tied up with animal rescuers from local NGOs to rescue the crocodiles.

The state, meanwhile, is gradually returning to normalcy after the severe floods. The state government has started cleanliness work in various areas. Roads are being repaired and steps are being taken to prevent spread of diseases.

With Inputs From Mahendra Prasad

New Delhi:

Not just floods, Vadodara is also fighting crocodiles that have entered residential areas after the Vishwamitri river, which flows through the city, swelled following heavy rain in Gujarat. Several crocodiles, measuring 10 to 15 feet, have been spotted on the roads, parks, outside residences, and on the premises of a university after a swollen Vishwamitri river flooded several areas of the city.

A reptile was even spotted on the roof of one of the flooded houses.

A crocodile was spotted on the roof of a house in Gujarat’s #Vadodara as the state continues to reel from floods after extremely heavy rainfall.

The video of the incident has gone viral on social media. pic.twitter.com/YiQar38EXE

— Our Vadodara (@ourvadodara) August 29, 2024

#WATCH | Vadodara, Gujarat: Forest Department rescues the crocodile seen on the campus of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda pic.twitter.com/joBQjJfAHW

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2024

An official on Thursday said they had rescued 10 crocodiles in the last five days.

“Two have been released and eight are still with us. We will release them when the water level of the river decreases,” he told the news agency ANI.

Vishwamitri River Is Home To 300 Crocodiles

The Vishwamitri River, which has been overflowing and has flooded the city, is reportedly home to some 300 mugger crocodiles.

Its water level, however, has come down from its peak level of 37 feet – 12 feet above the danger mark – to 24 feet this morning.

This, however, is a common occurrence for those living in areas along the river’s banks as every monsoon season, crocodiles leave the safe confines of the river and enter residential areas of the city aided by flooded streets.

“While rescue of crocodiles from residential areas near the bank of Vishwamitri river continues throughout the year, the number rises significantly during monsoon,” the PTI news agency quoted Range Forest Officer (RFO) Karansinh Rajput as saying.

In June, four crocodiles were rescued and released back into the river, he said, adding the number rose sharply to 21 in July.

Gujarat Floods

Rain-related incidents have claimed at least 26 lives in Gujarat over the past five days. In a release, the State Emergency Operations Centre said as many as 1,785 people were rescued on Thursday while 13,183 people were shifted to safer places due to rainfall and waterlogging.

More than 50,000 people have so far been relocated and around 4,200 people rescued from flood-affected areas in the state so far, the statement said. In some cases, helicopters were used by the security forces to take people to safer locations.

Teams of the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), its state counterpart SDRF, and local administration are engaged in relief and rescue operations in the worst-affected districts of Vadodara, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Kutch.

(With agency inputs)