Crocodile Attacks, Kills 15-Year-Old Girl Washing Dishes In River, Victim's Body Found

In a tragic incident, a 15-year-old girl was attacked and killed by a crocodile while she was washing dishes on a riverbank.

The incident took place Wednesday in Gir (West) Wildlife Division in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The region where the attack occurred is home to hundreds of crocodiles.

The girl, identified as Hiral Vagh, was attacked by the reptile while she was washing dishes on the Machchhundri riverbank. The girl's father, Bhabhlu Vagh, is a cattle herder.

"The reptile dragged the teenager deep in water. Her body was recovered hours later," Dushyant Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) of Junagadh Wildlife Circle told the Indian Express.

"The girl was washing utensils on the riverbank when she was attacked by a crocodile. A woman, who was present on the spot, raised an alarm but the girl could not be saved,” Dheeraj Mittal, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of Gir (West) said.

Authorities said after officials were alerted, they tried to find the crocodile suspected to have been involved in the attack.

“It is a difficult task to identify the reptile. But we have placed cages with baits on the bank of the river stretch where the incident took place. After rescuing the reptile, we will release it in the water away from the human habitation,” Mittal said.

In another incident in July, a crocodile attacked and killed a 54-year-old woman from Mahadevpura village in Vadodara, Gujarat. The woman was washing clothes on the banks of a river when she was attacked. The woman’s body was pulled out of the river several hours later. Rescuers then set up a trap to lure the crocodile, and the reptile was handed over to the Vadodara forest department.

Media reports said the crocodile had been residing in the river for over seven years and had fatally attacked seven people. Most of its victims were women who went to the riverbank to wash clothes or dishes.