VADODARA, October 17: A 2ft crocodile was found from a bathroom of a house in a society in Vadodara, which was released in the Vishwamitri river today, forest officials said.
The crocodile was found on Saturday night in the society on Dabhoi road in Pratapnagar locality. It was released in the river today, Vadodara Range Forest Officer (RFO) G Chauhan told PTI.
Nidhi Patel, a class XI student, spotted the crocodile, while it was on its way to the house and alerted her neighbour as she was alone, he said.
As the crocodile had entered the bathroom, Patel closed the bathroom door. She also closed her house and raised an alarm. A youth, who was passing by, informed fire brigade of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, said the officer.
According to the officer, a team of fire brigade along with animal rescue team and official of the forest department rushed to the spot.
“We caught the crocodile within half an hour. On Sunday it was in the custody of the forest department,” G Chauhan added.
An activist Rakesh Vadhwana, who was involved in the rescue operation, said there is a storm water drain near the society in which this house is located.
“The crocodile might have come out of it and entered the society,” Mr Vadhwana said.
Similarly, another crocodile was also rescued from a water body in P&T colony located on Harni road in the city and released into Vishwamitri river.
Ashok Pawar, Managing Trustee of Rohan Crocodile Trust, said: “There are an estimated 200 crocodiles in the Vishwamitri river”.
