Croc drags youth from safety nets in Andaman beach, still missing

Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Nov 12: In yet another incident of crocodile attack in Andaman Islands, a 21 year old youth has been taken away by a salt water crocodile while he saw swimming along with his friends at Wandoor Beach of South Andaman.

As per eye witnesses the crocodile safety net installed at Wandoor beach for the safety of tourists and locals has several holes in it and taking advantage of that the crocodile attacked one swimmer.

The victim has been identified as Bishnu Hari Mandal, a labourer by profession who had come to Andaman from Midnapur, West Bengal.

Eyewitnesses also added that the youth was struggling for survival for nearly 30 minutes right infront of others in beach but neither there were forest boats nor police boats for any kind of rescue operations. However nearly 12 friends of the victim tried their level best stop the croc from escaping for nearly 10 minutes.

“Had any agency approached towards the salt water crocodile with a motor boat the crocodile would have escaped out of fear leaving the victim. The life of the victim could have been saved today,” claimed Mr. Subir Chander the former Upadhayksh of South Andaman Zilla Parishad.

He alleged that even after four reminders about the poor condition of crocodile safety net the forest department turned a blind eye, which resulted in this incident.

After this attack forest and police department launched a search operation in sea around Wandoor area while coast guard helicopters launched an aerial search but till last report poured in the victim could not be found.

The members of Panchayats Raj Institute of South Andaman area today evening met with senior forest officials and demanded immediate repair of crocodile safety net and suspension of the officer responsible for such delay in repair of safety net.

The Lt Governor, Admiral DK Joshi (Retd.) has expressed his grief over the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, following this incident, the beaches of New Wandoor, North Wandoor and Collinpur have been declared as no swimming zone until further orders.