The State Forest Department on Wednesday provided ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 to the parents of a deceased minor girl, who was killed in a crocodile attack on July 25 last at Sahupada village under Badambila gram panchayat in Aul block.
According to the Forest official sources, a preying estuarine crocodile had killed the 14 year-old- girl, identified as Saraswati Parida, while she along with her mother was bathing in the Brahmani river. Notably, the minor girl was a student of class 10th at Keshabananda Girl’s High School. Swatilata Parida, the mother of the deceased girl stated that while Saraswati was bathing in the Brahmani river, a ferocious salt water crocodile suddenly pounced her and later dragged her inside the river water. The ill-fated girl cried for help but in vain.
“By the time, the local villagers reached at the spot, everything was finished. Unable to trace the body, they informed Rajnagar Forest Range officials. A forest team rushed to the spot, but it too failed to trace then body out. later July 26, a day after the incident, the body of the victim was fished out from the river, one km from the bathing ghat,” she maintained. The compensation was given in presence of Badambila panchayat sarapanch Soudamini Rout.