From farmlands to roads, crocs come to haunt residents in flood-hit areas

Kolhapur: ‘Out of the frying pan into the fire’ well defines the situation of people residing in the flood-affected parts in Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts.
As the murky floodwaters recede in Krishna, Koyna and Panchaganga rivers, crocodiles have emerged as their biggest worry, with the scary swamp dwellers making their presence felt almost everywhere — from rooftop of huts to farmlands and even on roads.Scared of any attacks, the affected residents have demanded that the forest department trap the crocodiles without any delay.
Subhash Mali, a villager from Khidrapur in Shiroli tehsil of Kolhapur, said, “A nearly 8-foot crocodile was spotted resting on the Krishna riverbanks on Tuesday. Two small crocodiles were seen in a farmland in the adjacent Rajapurwadi village on Monday. These sightings have created panic among the residents.”
Women, particularly, are not ready to return to their houses. Sheetal Patil, a villager from Kasbe Digraj in Sangli, said, “In 2019 and 2021 floods, several crocodiles were found across our village. We are, therefore, not taking any chance and returning home soon. The administration should send forest department officials to inspect the area.”
Experts said people should not panic. Amol Jadhav, a member of the Nature Conservation Society NGO in Sangli, said, “It’s natural to find crocodiles out of the rivers these days as their metabolism in the cold floodwaters is very low. Tar roads are the best place for them to get heat. People should not panic as the chances of crocodiles attacking humans are very low.”
Forest department officials said people should stay away from the riverbanks. The officials said crocodiles were expected to return to their previous habitats with receding floodwaters.
Ajit Kumar Patil, Honorary Wildlife Warden with the Sangli forest department, said, “If a crocodile is seen near a village, on a ghat or in floodwaters, people should not attempt to get close to it. They should also not throw stones or hit the crocodile with a stick as it can make the reptile aggressive. If anyone comes across crocodiles, they should contact the forest department helpline on 1926.”