Lagatar24 Desk
Vadodara: Vadodara is grappling with more than just severe flooding after the Vishwamitri River swelled from recent heavy rains in Gujarat. Alongside the rising water levels, residents are encountering a surge of crocodiles venturing into urban areas, including roads, parks, and even residential rooftops.
The Vishwamitri River, which typically houses around 300 mugger crocodiles, has overflowed its banks, leading to these reptiles straying into the city. In the past five days, officials have rescued ten crocodiles, with two already released and the remaining eight awaiting release as water levels subside.
The river’s water level peaked at 37 feet, 12 feet above the danger mark, but has since decreased to 24 feet. This seasonal migration of crocodiles is a recurring issue during the monsoon when the river’s overflow drives them into the city. The frequency of crocodile rescues increases significantly during these months, with 21 crocodiles rescued in July alone.
The flooding has also had a devastating impact on Gujarat, where at least 26 lives have been lost in the past five days due to rain-related incidents. The State Emergency Operations Centre reported that 1,785 people were rescued and 13,183 relocated to safety on Thursday. To date, over 50,000 individuals have been displaced, with around 4,200 people rescued from the worst-affected areas. Rescue operations are being carried out by the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local authorities across the most impacted districts, including Vadodara, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, and Kutch.
