Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Aug 18: Expressing deep concern over recent incidents of crocodile attacks, the Lt. Governor today said crocodile attack on beaches is not acceptable.
It is worth mentioning here that on November 4, 2014, the Lt. Governor of the Islands had ordered immediate steps for ensuring the safety of visitors at the beaches including the issue of threats from crocodiles at all public beaches frequented by tourists.
“One of the interim measures to be implemented will be plying of motor boats in and around these beaches so as to ward off crocodiles venturing into the areas,” Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lt. Gen (Retd.) A K Singh had said in his direction.
The Forest Department was directed to look into long term measures, such as putting up safety wire nets, during the meetings.
This is now clear that no such precautionary steps have been taken by Forest Department yet, to save local public and tourists from crocodile attacks at prominent beaches.
When this matter was pointed out by Andaman Sheekha, the Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lt. Gen (Retd.) A K Singh today said the PCCF must act promptly on instruction issued and croc attack on beaches is not acceptable.
On 15 August a Home Guard Jawan was attacked by crocodile at Tourist favourite Wandoor beach of South Andaman while on 17 August a Jarawa man was attacked by Crocodile inside Jarawa Reserve Forest. Thankfully in both the cases the victims survived the attack.
In past several such incidents of Crocodile attack has been reported from various other tourist favourite beaches of A & N Islands, one of the victims was a tourist from New Jersey, Lauren Failla, who was killed by a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling in Neil Cove beach of Havelock Island in April 2010.
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