https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Crocodile Chaos in Vadodara: How Floods Forced Reptiles into City Streets

In Vadodara's August 2024 floods, crocodiles were driven into urban areas, sparking fear. The Forest Department rescued over 50 crocodiles, managing their safe relocation while dealing with the challenges of flood-induced displacements.
Indian Masterminds Stories

On the night of August 28th, after a relentless downpour had finally ceased amidst the heavy flooding in Vadodara, Gujarat, the city was gripped by a pervasive sense of fear and panic that left many residents sleepless. Rajan, a 50-year-old resident of Sayajibaug, emerged from his home only to be met with a sight that was both shocking and terrifying: a 12-foot-long crocodile was slithering down the street toward him. Overcome with dread, Rajan immediately shouted a warning to others and sought refuge in a safer location.

Meanwhile, Suman, who lived in Gorwa, witnessed two crocodiles making their way along the road from the vantage point of her rooftop and swiftly alerted the Forest Department. In the Kamnath Nagar area near Fatehgunj, residents were stunned to find a crocodile that had navigated through the floodwaters and ended up at a house in their colony. For many, this was an unprecedented sight.

The devastating floods and continuous rains that struck Gujarat in the last week of August had submerged numerous cities and caused widespread destruction. In Vadodara, the situation was further exacerbated by crocodiles displaced from the Vishwamitri River due to the flooding. However, the swift response of the Forest Department proved instrumental in alleviating the city’s fears. In just three days, they successfully rescued over 45 crocodiles roaming the city. An additional 5 to 7 crocodiles were captured subsequently. Unfortunately, three crocodiles lost their lives after being struck by a train while on the railway tracks. The Forest officials conducted health checks on all the rescued crocodiles before releasing them to safer locations.

To gain deeper insights into the rescue operations, Indian Masterminds spoke with Mr. Agneeshwar Vyas, an IFS officer from the 2014 batch and the head of the Vadodara South division. He provided valuable information on the crocodile rescue efforts, the number of crocodiles involved, and the nature of these formidable creatures.

THE VISHWAMITRI RIVER: THE NATURAL HABITAT OF CROCODILES

The recent devastating floods in Vadodara have driven aquatic animals, including large crocodiles, into residential areas, instilling fear and concern among residents. In response, the Forest Department and animal activists have mobilized to rescue these creatures and relocate them to safer environments.

The first sighting of a crocodile within the city was reported during the night of August 27-28. The Vishwamitri River, which flows through the heart of Vadodara, serves as a natural habitat for a substantial population of crocodiles. Crocodiles are classified as a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, and the Vishwamitri River is known to host a significant number of them. According to the last census conducted in 2021, the river is home to over 700 crocodiles.

When the water levels in the river rise, the banks overflow, forcing crocodiles to leave their natural habitat and venture into human-populated areas. While this is a common occurrence during the monsoon season, the situation this year was exacerbated by the unprecedented scale of the floods. The severity of the flooding caused water to spread extensively across the city, leading crocodiles to roam far beyond their usual territory.

RESTRAINING CROCODILES

To manage the crocodile rescue efforts, the Forest Department organized specialized teams led by range officers and supported by numerous volunteers. They also established helplines—9409027166 and 9825011117—for residents to report crocodile sightings within the city. When a call was received, the nearest staff would quickly respond to the location, aiming to manage the situation without escalating conflict with the crocodile.

“Crocodiles are difficult to handle, as they cannot be tranquilized or subdued with traditional methods,” Mr. Vyas explained.

“Instead, the Forest Department uses ropes, nets, and other equipment to capture them. The most challenging aspect of capturing a crocodile is managing its powerful jaws. If the crocodile’s mouth is open and it grabs something, it becomes extremely difficult to control and increases the risk of injury to humans. Therefore, the first step is to cover and secure the crocodile’s jaws, then close its eyes to minimize shock. Once the animal is calm, it is safely captured and transported in a cage.”

After capture, crocodiles are taken to rescue centers where they undergo a thorough physical examination to ensure they are uninjured and healthy. If they pass the health assessment, they are then released back into their natural habitat, ensuring their return to a safe and familiar environment.

EFFORTS & CHALLENGES

Regarding efforts and challenges, Mr. Vyas stated, “As a forest officer, I cannot determine how far the river water has reached. We respond as we receive information. Although we conducted over 45 rescues in the first three days, we received only 5 rescue calls in the subsequent three days. This suggests that we have likely rescued nearly everyone who was initially affected.” However, the flood has not entirely ended, and there is still some water near the riverbank. If there are still people left and we receive a call, forest officials will continue to respond.

TERRITORIAL NATURE OF CROCODILES

Crocodile is a territorial animal. Many crocodiles cannot live at one place, otherwise the bigger crocodile will chase away the smaller one after a fight. Hence, each crocodile has to be released at a different place. There are many patches in the river where they reside. They live there and are released there. The river is deep at some places and shallow at other places. Hence, there are changes in it every year and the territory of crocodiles also keeps on changing. And these crocodiles distribute themselves among themselves. The team decides which crocodile should be released in which patch.

“Wild animals have different natures. It can attack suddenly or can also take time. And it can also happen that it is near you and no one attacks. Crocodile is exactly like this. By looking at it no one can tell how it will behave,” Mr Vyas said.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NSE-resized
NSE Pledges Rs 1 Crore to Support Families of Pahalgam Terror Attack Victims
KK Pathak IAS
Who is IAS Officer KK Pathak, Relieved from Bihar, to Join as Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat?
moefcc-environment-climatechange-resized
MoEF&CC Issues Circular on Relieving of Transferred IFS Officers of AGMUT Cadre
Punjab-Haryana-High-Court-resized
132 Judges Transferred By Order of Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Check Names Here
Naxal
289 Soldiers and Officers Transferred to Chaibasa to Strengthen Anti-Naxal Operations
Madhya Pradesh Logo IM
Madhya Pradesh Becomes First State to Launch Real-Time Forest Alert System
RITES_green_logo
RITES Ltd Secures Rs 28 Crore Work Order from Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd
Engineers India Limited EIL
IRSME Rajnesh Singh Assigned Additional Charge as CVO of Engineers India Limited
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Shivang Tiwari UPSC
No Icons to Follow Just the Urge to Solve Real Problems | Shivang Tiwari 
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha Sets A Goal Of Zero NPA, Rs 3 Lakh Crore Loan Book
WAVES 2025 (Ashutosh Mohile)
A Davos-Like Media & Entertainment Summit in Mumbai
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Aayushi Bansal
From Loss to Legacy: Aayushi Bansal’s Journey to AIR 7 in UPSC CSE 2024
Losing her father at nine, Aayushi Bansal fought every odd, cracked UPSC thrice, and now stands among...
Shivang Tiwari UPSC
No Icons to Follow Just the Urge to Solve Real Problems | Shivang Tiwari 
Shivang Tiwari's journey from a village near Melghat Tiger Reserve to securing AIR 752 in UPSC is an...
Vibhor Bhardwaj UPSC AIR 19
From Physics to IAS: Bulandshahr's Vibhor Bhardwaj’s Cracked UPSC 2024 With This Master Strategy
Vibhor Bhardwaj’s UPSC journey highlights the power of perseverance and consistency. From a rural background...
Social Media
Rajan Singh Ex-IPS
Ex-IPS Officer Mr. Rajan Singh Shares Powerful Insight on Influence through Action
Mr. Rajan Singh is an ex-IPS officer of the 1997-batch (Kerala cadre) and founder of HabitStrong Org...
Exam Student Aspirant
'Bramhastra' For Aspirants Appearing for UPSC Prelims Exam 2025, ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Final Month Strategy
Officer Shaikh's practical and focused suggestions come as a timely morale booster for thousands of candidates...
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
NSE-resized
NSE Pledges Rs 1 Crore to Support Families of Pahalgam Terror Attack Victims
KK Pathak IAS
Who is IAS Officer KK Pathak, Relieved from Bihar, to Join as Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat?
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Shivang Tiwari UPSC
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha
WAVES 2025 (Ashutosh Mohile)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT