Gujarat Rains: Crocodile Kills Man in Vadodara’s Orsang River

Vadodara: As Gujarat grapples with floods and waterfalls triggered by heavy rainfall, a man was killed in Dabhoi after a crocodile dragged him into the Orsang River in Vadodara.

According to reports, the deceased, Amit Poonambhai Vasava, 30, was a laborer hailing from Rajpura. Officials said, “Amit was attempting to set a fishing net when the crocodile attacked him and dragged him into the river.”

Despite continuous efforts, Amit was unable to escape as he slipped and was pulled underwater by the crocodile.

Several instances of crocodiles venturing into residential areas in Vadodara have been witnessed in the past few days. Vadodara is infamous for its dense crocodile population, especially in the Vishwamitri River, which flows through the city. The Mugger crocodile, also known as the marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), can often be seen basking along the riverbanks or even within the city limits.

The news agency PTI reported that around 17,800 people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas as heavy showers lashed parts of the state for the fifth consecutive day. Reports indicate that at least 28 people have lost their lives due to the floods.

Minister Rushikesh Patel said that over 5,000 people have been evacuated in Vadodara, while 1,200 were rescued from the floods in the city.

On Thursday, MLAs and corporators in Vadodara were criticized by residents after they visited flood-affected areas. "Many citizens expressed disappointment, accusing their representatives of failing to provide adequate support during the crisis. Some corporators ignored calls for help, and their phones were switched off in some areas, further exacerbating the public's discontent," a local said.