India News : Panic gripped Suwaniya village in Gangrar subdivision on Tuesday afternoon when a 10-foot-long crocodile wandered into a government school premises. Fortunately, school had already dispersed by then, preventing a potential tragedy.
Upon receiving the information, a joint team of the Forest Department and wildlife enthusiasts rushed to the spot. The rescue operation faced challenges due to tall grass (2–3 feet high) covering the school grounds, where the crocodile had hidden. After nearly two to three hours of effort, the reptile—estimated to weigh around 100 kg—was safely captured and later released into Bassi Dam.
According to locals, the crocodile had strayed from the nearby Bedach River and entered the school compound around 2 PM. Villagers immediately informed the school authorities and the village sarpanch, who then contacted Deputy Conservator of Forests, Rahul Jhanjhariya. Acting swiftly, a team led by Forest Officer Nathusingh, along with wildlife enthusiasts including Piyush Kamble, Ramkumar Sahu, and Mubarik Khan, launched the rescue mission.
During the operation, the crocodile was spotted lying hidden in the grass, ready to strike with its jaws open. After careful maneuvering, the team managed to capture it without harm. Later in the evening, it was transported and released into Bassi Sanctuary’s dam area.
Wildlife expert Manish Tiwari noted that the crocodile had entered through the school’s main gate but got stuck inside due to the thick grass, making it unable to find an exit. “Had it not been spotted in time, it could have posed a threat to students and staff the next day,” he added.
This was not the first such incident in Suwaniya village. A month earlier, two crocodiles were also rescued from the same area after straying from the Bedach River.
