As she imagines how her husband was pulled into the water by a crocodile, 50-year-old Laxmi Edlur breaks down. Over a month on, her family has not been able to conduct the shepherd’s funeral as his body has not been found yet.
Another shepherd, Honnappa, shudders as he recalls Mareppa Edlur being pulled into the water. “We stepped into the river to drink water. Out of nowhere, a crocodile appeared, caught Mareppa’s hand and pulled him in. I could do nothing to save him,” Mr. Honnappa says.
The March 28 incident was not the first of its kind for the villagers living on the banks of the Krishna river in Yadgir. Residents of Munamutagi, Tumkur, Bendebenbali, Hayyal, Anur, Shivanur, Joladadagi, Tonnur, Sangam, Budihal, Beeranal, Kamanur, Kandalli, Benakanahalli and Arujnagi villages live in the fear of crocodile attack, especially during the dry years.
As the severe drought this year has caused several waterbodies to dry up, those approaching the riverbank for quenching their thirst have to be extra careful; crocodiles could be waiting for their prey in the shallow waters. Every summer, there are such cases of man-animal conflict in the district.
On October 25 last year, 18-year-old shepherd Marlingappa of Konkal village lost his life in a crocodile attack. In the past two years, two people and several heads of cattle have died in crocodile attacks. There has also been a report of a crocodile being killed by fishermen after it strayed into a human habitat at Kakkera village, Surpur taluk, in search of food.
Villagers have accused forest officials of being apathetic, a charge dismissed by Deputy Conservator of Forests Vanthi. “We ask them to be cautious in places where crocodiles have been sighted. [We] ask them not to venture into the water in such places. We have taken precautions,” she says.
Wait continues
Meanwhile, Ms. Edlur and her family members have lost hope of getting the mortal remains of the shepherd. A piece of human body fished out from the river has been sent for a DNA test. But the family is hopeful of getting the compensation promised by forest officials.
But A.B. Patil, Assistant Conservator of Forests, says the compensation of ₹5 lakh would be released only after the police and Health Department officials complete the formalities and submit a report.
The late shepherd’s second son, Devindrappa, a class 8 student, has now taken up the responsibility of rearing the sheep. But, like the rest of the shepherds in the village, he is wary. His elder brother, Yallappa, who is married, has chosen to work as a daily wage labourer as it is a “safer option”.
