A 37-year-old mother of three was killed by a saltwater crocodile while fishing in the Gobari River near Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha, India, on Friday, September 19, 2025. Laxmi Dalei of Suniti village was attacked around 10:30 a.m. local time while catching fish in waters under the Mahakalapada forest range.
Santanu Kumar Dalei, a forest range officer of Mahakalapada, stated, “The crocodile emerged from nowhere and lunged at her.” Witnesses reported that villagers present at the scene raised an alarm and attempted to save Dalei, but their efforts were unsuccessful as the crocodile dragged her into the water before she could react.
A search operation involving local forest guards, fire personnel and nearby residents was immediately launched to locate the victim. The mutilated remains of Dalei were recovered on the riverbank on Saturday, September 20, one day after the attack. Her body showed evidence of being partially consumed by the crocodile.
Dalei is survived by her husband and three young daughters. According to witness Mandakini Mandal, the crocodile suddenly emerged from the water and dragged Dalei into the river despite the presence of other villagers who tried to intervene.
Bhitarkanika encompasses a vast saltwater swamp spanning approximately 404 miles across the Brahmani River and Baitarani River deltas in Odisha. The area serves as habitat for 1,826 saltwater crocodiles according to this year’s reptile census, making it home to the highest concentration of these reptiles in the country.
Forest officials acknowledge the inherent dangers of the waterways in the region. Range officer Santuru indicated that crocodiles are not considered a risk to public safety if people avoid entering the waters, but warned that safety cannot be guaranteed for those who venture into crocodile-inhabited areas.
This incident represents part of an escalating pattern of human-crocodile conflicts in villages surrounding Bhitarkanika National Park. The attack on Dalei marks the 13th fatal crocodile incident in the area within two years, according to local media reports. Over the past 40 months, 28 people have been killed by crocodiles in the region.
The human-crocodile conflict in villages around Bhitarkanika and nearby areas has intensified significantly, with rampaging crocodiles killing five to six people annually and injuring many others. Human interference in crocodile-infested water bodies, including rivers, creeks and waterways, frequently leads to fatal encounters in villages situated on the periphery of the 672-square-kilometer sanctuary.
Forest department officials have implemented preventive measures to reduce human-crocodile interactions. Authorities erected barricades around 120 river ghats in Aul, Mahakalapada, Rajkanika and Pattamundai blocks surrounding Bhitarkanika to prevent crocodiles from attacking humans. The department also conducts awareness campaigns by distributing posters and pamphlets and using loudspeakers to warn riverside villagers.
Forest officials advise local residents not to venture into water bodies that serve as crocodile habitats and recommend that locals bathe in rivers only within protected barricaded areas. Despite these precautions, crocodiles are frequently observed invading riverside villages across waterways in multiple blocks of Kendrapada district and areas of Bhadrak district, often far from the park’s designated boundaries.
The September 19 attack on Dalei occurred just days after another fatal crocodile incident involving a teenager. On September 15, 15-year-old Shivani Kevat was killed by a crocodile while collecting water from the Parvati River in Rajasthan. Witnesses working in nearby fields attempted to scare the crocodile away but were unsuccessful. Kevat’s body was discovered floating in the river the following day, with an autopsy confirming drowning as the cause of death.
Residents of forest-adjacent villages point to the rising saltwater crocodile population as a key factor in the increasing frequency of human attacks by reptiles in areas around Bhitarkanika. Local farmers’ leaders report that crocodiles regularly venture beyond the sanctuary’s water bodies into residential areas across multiple district blocks.
The Odeshi Forest Department has not provided immediate comment regarding the September 19 incident. Forest authorities continue search and rescue operations while investigating the circumstances surrounding Dalei’s death in the ongoing effort to address human-wildlife conflicts in the region.
