A 10-year-old boy died when a crocodile dragged him into river in front of his mother at Nimpur village under the Pattamundai police limits in Kendrapada district on Wednesday.
According to reports, Ashutosh Acharya of the village and his mother had gone to the Brahmani river to take bath in morning. While they were bathing, the crocodile dragged the boy into the water body. As the woman screamed for help, locals gathered at the spot and initiated a rescue operation.
Unfortunately, Ashutosh’s body was later found floating in the river. A pall of gloom descended on the village after the tragedy took place on the Pahili Raja day.
Tension ran high at the place as locals alleged that though they had informed the personnel of Forest and Fire Service departments, there was delay in their arrival.
The villagers staged a protest by placing the boy’s body on road. Officials of the local administration were trying to pacify them.
Notably, a person had also been dragged into the river from the same spot and killed by a crocodile a year ago.