Bhubaneswar: A nearly nine-foot-long mugger crocodile was rescued by forest officials after it was spotted near railway tracks in Rairakhol area of Odisha’s Sambalpur district.

The crocodile was rescued near the Sambalpur-Talcher railway tracks at Patakhaman village under Kukudabahali gram panchayat in Rairakhol block.

The reptile was captured after an intensive three-and-a-half-hour operation involving forest personnel and Rapid Response Teams from Sambalpur and Angul.

According to reports, villagers first spotted the 8-foot-11-inch-long crocodile late on Monday night while it was crossing the railway tracks near Patakhaman. The sudden appearance of the large reptile in an area without any major river or stream nearby triggered panic among local residents.

On being informed, the officials of Rairakhol Forest Division, along with Rapid Response Teams from Sambalpur and Angul, rushed to the spot and launched a search operation. However, the crocodile had moved away from the initial location.

After an extensive search, the reptile was finally located on Tuesday afternoon in a patch of bushy woodland beside the railway tracks. The officials then launched an operation to capture the crocodile safely.

The joint team managed to rescue the crocodile after nearly three-and-a-half hours of operation. Following the rescue, the Angul forest team transported the reptile and released it into a safe water body.

Forest officials estimated the crocodile to be around 14 to 15 years old. They suspect that heavy rainfall this year may have caused it to stray into the human habitation area from a nearby water source.

Although the successful rescue brought relief to villagers, the Forest Department has advised residents to remain cautious. The locals have been urged to avoid venturing outdoors at night unless necessary and to ensure that children do not go out unattended.