Shahjahanpur: A crocodile was spotted crawling through a narrow lane near the city's Singh Petrol Pump on Sunday night (August 4), leaving the residents of Mohalla Gadiyana in shock.
The reptile, suspected to have entered the area through a large drain connected to the Ganga river, was eventually captured by the locals after struggling for two hours and locked inside a car for safety.
The bizarre incident took place at around 2:00 am when dogs in the area began frantically barking. As curious residents peered outside, they were stunned to see a crocodile making its was down the street.
As per a report by Amar Ujala, eyewitnesses raised the alarm, and a group of locals, including Jitin Yadav, SP district vice president Jitendra Vajpayee, and Sanjeev, sprang into action to catch the animal.
A video of the incident surfaced on social media. Have a look:
Here's How Locals Subdued the Crocodile
With no forest officials on site at the time, the residents took it upon themselves to manage the situation. Armed with ropes and a lot of patience, they managed to subdue the crocodile, tying its mouth securely before placing it inside a car for temporary containment. The reptile was then taken to a residence in Hayatpura, where it remained overnight.
“It took us nearly two hours to catch it. We didn’t want anyone to get hurt or the animal to escape,” said one of the locals, as quoted by Amar Ujala. A large crowd gathered by morning, eager to catch a glimpse of the unexpected visitor.
Forest Department Takes Over in the Morning
At around 9:30 am on Monday, August 4, the forest department team arrived and safely transferred the crocodile into a cage. Officials suspect that the animal came from the Garra river via the drain running through nearby agricultural fields.
The incident has invited concerns over unchecked access from water bodies into residential areas, especially during monsoon season. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
