Hajipur/Patna: With the Chhath festival at its peak, fear has gripped devotees along the Ganga River in Vaishali district after two crocodiles were spotted near the Bidupur six-lane bridge. The sightings, which have persisted for over a week, have sparked panic among locals and disrupted traditional bathing rituals central to the four-day festival.
According to residents, the reptiles have been seen surfacing repeatedly over the past ten days and have reportedly tried to approach people near the riverbank. “Everyone here is scared,” said Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Bidupur. “Even during Nahay-Khaay and Kharna, people avoided entering the water.”
Locals recalled a tragic incident two years ago in the same area, when a 14-year-old boy was killed in a crocodile attack while bathing in the Ganga. The memory of that event has deepened public anxiety, as thousands of devotees traditionally bathe in the river as part of Chhath Puja rituals.
The Bidupur Ghat, usually teeming with worshippers during the festival, saw a much smaller crowd this weekend. Many devotees performed the Nahay-Khaay and Kharna rituals from a distance, fearing for their safety. Some residents reportedly tried to drive away the crocodiles by throwing stones, but the reptiles continued to linger in the area.
Local authorities have taken note of the situation. Circle Officer (CO) Karishma Kumari confirmed that the administration has been alerted and that efforts are underway to capture and relocate the animals. “Two crocodiles have been reported. The district administration has been informed. The crocodiles will soon be rescued and taken to a safe location,” she said.
The district administration has since conducted inspections at major Chhath ghats along the Ganga, deploying additional personnel to ensure safety. Officials have urged devotees to remain cautious and avoid venturing into deep waters until the reptiles are relocated.
In 2023, a similar case in Rustampur under Vaishali’s police jurisdiction had ended in tragedy when a crocodile attacked a young boy from Gariban Toli, killing him instantly. In anger, locals had later dragged the animal from the river and beat it to death with sticks — a grim reminder of the ongoing human-wildlife conflict along the Ganga.
