72-year-old farmer killed in crocodile attack in Belagavi

BELAGAVI: An old farmer died after he was attacked by a crocodile on the banks of Doodhganga river near Dattawad-Sadalga in Chikkodi taluk on Saturday.

The deceased farmer is identified as Mahadev Punnappa Khure (72), a resident of Sadalga village Chikkodi taluk. On Friday (May 10), Mahadev Khure was doing agricultural work on his land in Kanti area along the river. After his field work, he went into the river to take a bath. After he swam in the river for a while and returned to the river bank, the crocodile grabbed his leg and dragged him into the water, villagers said.

There was an injury mark on farmer Mahadev’s left thigh. The body was found on the river bank near Ramesh Pradhane’s farm on Saturday. His body was recovered from the river bank by social worker Sukumar Ugare and other villagers. He left behind a wife and two sons. A case has been registered at Sadalga police station. The body was handed over to the family after the autopsy report. The number of crocodiles in the Doodhganga river has increased drastically. After this incident, the fear of crocodiles has increased among farmers.