Mumbai: Crocodile attack in city lake costs senior citizen his limb

In a human-animal conflict, a 64-year-old man's leg had to be amputated after he was severely injured in a crocodile attack at the city's Vihar lake. While crocodile sightings are common at Tulsi, Vihar and Powai lakes, such attacks on humans are extremely rare. The man had reportedly gone to the lake to fish, on Sunday.

On Sunday morning, Barku Dhangade, a resident of Bhandup-Tembipada, went fishing at Vihar lake with his nephew Ravindra Dhangade. His son, Sachin Dhangade, explained: "For years, my father has fished at Vihar lake and seen crocodiles many times. On Sunday, while he was deep in the water, a crocodile bit his leg. My father was seriously injured and began shouting, after which my cousin Ravindra, who was fishing nearby, jumped in and saved him."

Following the attack, Barku was rushed to a BMC-run hospital in Mulund. Due to the severity of the injury, he was transferred to Sion Hospital, where doctors had to amputate his left foot. "His condition is stable, but we are shocked. Despite years of fishing there and seeing crocodiles, he was never attacked before," added Sachin.

The Indian marsh crocodile, also known as the mugger crocodile, is native to the Indian subcontinent and parts of Iran. It thrives in freshwater environments such as rivers, lakes and ponds and can adapt to man-made reservoirs. Unlike the saltwater crocodile, the mugger avoids saline habitats. Once common across the subcontinent, the species has seen its population decline due to habitat destruction, hunting and human encroachment.

The species plays a critical role in maintaining ecological balance as an apex predator, but increasing human activity has heightened conflict risks, making conservation efforts essential.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Sachin Repal from the Thane Forest Department said, "We received information about the human-crocodile conflict at Vihar lake and have instructed officials to investigate to understand its cause."

Expert opinions

Honorary Wildlife Warden of Thane, Pawan Sharma, said: "This incident is unfortunate, and we sympathise with the victim. However, he was aware of the crocodiles in Vihar lake, and fishing or entering the waters is strictly prohibited. This is a security breach the BMC must address urgently. The lake, which provides drinking water to the city, is part of the core area of the national park, placing both humans and wildlife at risk. Incidents like this highlight the dangers. The police and BMC must promptly inform the forest department about human-wildlife conflict"

64
Age of the victim

Human-crocodile encounters

2022: A man was injured by a crocodile at Powai lake.
2016: A 50-year-old man was attacked at Powai.
2010: A man lost his life after a attack at Powai lake.

Crocodile rescues in 2024:
September: A crocodile was rescued by an NGO in Mulund.
August: An Indian marsh crocodile was rescued from Powai by the forest department and an NGO.
August: A four-foot-long Indian marsh crocodile was rescued in Aarey Colony.