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
Powergrid1 Power Grid
Power Grid Commissions Fibre Optic Communication Project in Western Region Under Master Communication Plan
Uttarakhand-Govt
Uttarakhand Signs 3 Key MoUs to Boost Social Development, Digital Talent, & AI-Based Education - Details Inside
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies Bihar Godowns
Bihar: 6,158 Godowns Built Under PACS & Vyapar Mandals, 17 Lakh MT Capacity Created; Boosting Rural Economy - Details Inside
Chenab Rail Bridge
EIL and CEIL Celebrate Role in World’s Highest Railway Arch—Chenab Rail Bridge
PNB-resized
PNB Slashes Repo-Linked Lending Rate to 8.35%; Home and Vehicle Loans Get Cheaper
Siddarth Mohanty LIC
Siddhartha Mohanty Completes Tenure as CEO & MD of LIC of India - Know More About Him
Kiran Bedi resized
Chinnaswamy Stampede: Kiran Bedi Voices In Favour Of Ex-Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda - Labels His Transfer "Unfair" Amid Growing Backlash
Powergrid1 Power Grid
Power Grid Commissions Two Major Projects; Receives Commercial Operation Notifications - Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
Monika Singh’s Life Beyond the Bureaucracy | Video Interview 
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Divyanshu Pal Nagar IFS
5 Years, 5 Mains, 4 Interviews: How Divyanshu Pal Nagar Stumbled in CSE, Triumphed in IFS - A Lesson for Every Aspirant
Divyanshu Pal Nagar’s inspiring five-year UPSC journey shows how perseverance, disciplined self-study,...
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
Social Media
Tiger jump Sundarban
Stunning Viral Video Shows Royal Bengal Tiger Making Spectacular 30-Foot Leap Across River in Sunderbans - See It Here
Retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda shared the clip online, which quickly went...
shubham kumar ias marriage
IAS Topper Weds BPSC Topper: Shubham Kumar Marries IRS Officer Priyangi Mehta in Patna; Wedding Video Goes Viral
Topper Couple Alert: Shubham Kumar, Priyangi Mehta’s Wedding Grabs Spotlight in Bihar
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Powergrid1 Power Grid
Power Grid Commissions Fibre Optic Communication Project in Western Region Under Master Communication Plan
Uttarakhand-Govt
Uttarakhand Signs 3 Key MoUs to Boost Social Development, Digital Talent, & AI-Based Education - Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Monika Singh
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT