A 12-year-old boy, P. Srinath, died on Friday afternoon when a crocodile attacked him as he was swimming in the Pakhal Lake.
The Class V student’s summer holiday was tragically cut short when he went swimming in the crocodile-infested lake with two other friends. The lake is home to more than 20 crocodiles.
A resident of Ashok Nagar in Kanapur mandal, Srinath was visiting his aunt for holidays in the neighbouring Chilakamma Nagar in Kanapur mandal. According to locals, the incident took place at the far end of the Pakhal Lake, at Chilakallagattu, on the Kottaguda route. The boy died of drowning after a crocodile dragged him under water by pulling one of his legs. Srinath’s friends had reported on Friday that he had drowned and the Kanapur police and revenue authorities launched a search operation which continued till Saturday.
His body was finally fished out at around 9 am on Saturday and sent for post mortem to the Narsampet Government Hospital. However, it became clear that the victim had died due to a crocodile attack after rescuers reported of bite marks on Srinath’s legs. This is the first instance of a death due to crocodile attack at Pakhal Lake since Wildlife authorities introduced them here years ago. While there have been many instances of crocodile attacks at the lake in the past, none of them had resulted in a death till now. Last year, a youth from a marriage party from Ellandu was severely injured in a crocodile attack. Attacks are also reported at the lake during immersion of Ganesh idols.
Though signboards have been put up near the lake warning people about swimming, it is rarely followed. Meanwhile, Forest Ranger of Narsempet Mr N. Joginder said that a crocodile count was due at the lake. “The Wildlife officials have so far not conducted any crocodile census in the lake,” he said.
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