A woman and her teenage son have gone missing inside Bhitarkanika National Park after venturing deep into the forest to catch crabs.
The incident occurred five days ago, sparking fears of a possible crocodile attack and prompting a full-scale search operation.
Anjana Mirdha (45) and her son Ratindra (18), residents of Debendra Narayanpur village, entered the forest illegally along with two fellow villagers, Ahalya and Chandra. While the others returned safely, Anjana and Ratindra failed to come back, raising alarm among family members and locals.
According to reports, the duo had gone nearly 10 kilometers into the forest. A village meeting was held, after which the family filed a missing complaint with Rajnagar police. The forest department was informed only recently, and a search operation was launched involving over 10 forest officials, assisted by Ahalya and Chandra.
Despite extensive efforts, no trace of the missing pair has been found. Locals suspect they may have been dragged away by a crocodile, given the park’s dense mangrove ecosystem and known reptile population.
Authorities continue to comb the area, and the incident has reignited concerns over illegal entry into protected wildlife zones and the need for stricter enforcement.
