Malingaraya Pujar
CH NEWS
Despite drought in Gadag district, the Tungabhadra River is flowing strongly after rains in the Western Ghats.
The full river has brought relief to farmers, but it has also raised fears among villages along its banks. Residents are worried after a large crocodile and its young one were seen near homes in Mundargi taluk, turning a peaceful riverbank into a place of concern for local families and farmers alike today.
On Sunday morning, farmer Duragappa Swagi of Vithalapur opened his backyard door and was shocked to find a mother crocodile with its calf nearby. The noise and shouting drove the adult crocodile back toward the river, while villagers caught the calf. This close encounter has left residents asking what might have happened if the reptiles had remained hidden and children or cattle had entered the backyard without warning or protection.
Local residents say crocodiles have become increasingly common along the Tungabhadra, especially when food is scarce or during nesting periods. They reportedly move through bushes and fields and sometimes enter village backyards, cattle sheds and sugarcane fields. Villages such as Vithalapur, Sheengtalur and Korlahalli are particularly worried. Farmers fear entering their fields, while women and girls feel unsafe going to the riverbank to wash clothes or collect water each day.
Residents also question the current response of the Forest Department. When a crocodile is reported, officials generally arrive, rescue it and release it into the river again. While such action may remove an immediate danger, it does not solve the larger problem of repeated movement into nearby settlements. People want a long term plan instead of repeated rescue and release operations after each sighting reported.
Residents and farmers are calling for stronger preventive measures before a serious accident occurs. They want iron nets or barriers near homes and farmland, warning boards at known crocodile areas, and a dedicated rescue team able to respond quickly. The Tungabhadra should remain a source of water and livelihood, not a constant danger. A clear safety plan can help people live beside the river without fear safely.
