Kendrapada: A partially blind elderly man from Odisha's Kendrapara district grabbed headlines today after he fought off a saltwater crocodile with his presence of mind and lived to tell the tale.

Prasant Mandal, a resident of Arunnagar village under Baulakani panchayat of Mahakalapada block, was performing his morning ablutions in Ramchandi river ghat when a 10 ft-long saltwater crocodile attacked him. He survived the near fatal encounter after valiantly fighting back for about 15 minutes. 

As per reports, Mandal was bathing in the creek when the reptile suddenly appeared and tried to drag him into the water. He, however, managed to escape after jabbing the crocodile's eyes with his hand. 

Recounting the traumatic experience, Mandal said it was sheer luck and a strong survival instinct which gave him a new lease of life. "I was bathing when a crocodile, about 10 ft-long, suddenly emerged and dragged me inside. As I fought back, it let go of my leg but again bit my left hand.  I somehow managed to free myself from its clutches when I pricked the crocodile's eyes with my right hand and it loosened its grip," he said, reliving the horrifying moments. 

Mandal's wife Prabhati corroborated his claims and said it was a miracle he is alive. "My husband was washing himself in the river when the incident occured. As he is blind in one eye, he could not see the crocodile approaching. The reptile dragged him inside the water but he fought back and escaped from its clutches by pricking its eye. He then got out of the water and collapsed to the ground. A while later, he regained senses and came home to narrate the incident. Seeing the bite marks on his hand, we rushed him to the hospital. I thank the Almighty for saving my husband's life," she said in tears. 

Meanwhile, Prasant underwent treatment at the community health centre. Hospital sources said he is stable now. 

Cases of human-crocodile conflict in villages around Bhitarkanika national park (BNP) and its nearby areas have been a cause of serious concern over the years.As per the latest annual reptile census, population of saltwater crocodile in BNP saw a rise from 1,811 in 2024 to 1,826 this year.

 

 

 

 

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