After two days of tension in MV‑104 village, residents finally breathed a sigh of relief as the Odisha Forest Department’s Rapid Response Team successfully rescued a 5‑foot crocodile from a local pond.
The reptile had been hiding inside a burrow within the pond, sparking fear among villagers who avoided the area for days. Following a prolonged rescue operation, the team carefully captured the crocodile early Wednesday morning.
Officials confirmed that the crocodile has been shifted to the Animal Rescue Treatment Centre at Balimela for a preliminary health examination. Once cleared, it will be released back into the Balimela reservoir, in line with Forest Department protocols.
For the past two days, villagers had been living in fear, reluctant to go near the pond. With the successful capture, the atmosphere in the village has turned to relief and celebration. Locals expressed gratitude to the Forest Department and the Rapid Response Team for their timely intervention.
