LUCKNOW: A 55-year-old woman was killed in a suspected crocodile attack while returning home from a wedding in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, with villagers recovering her body after spotting it clamped in the reptile’s jaws nearly 15 hours later.The incident took place in the Mohkampurwa police station area, around 110 km from the district headquarters.According to police and family members, Ketki (55), wife of Ramesh and a resident of Chafariya gram panchayat, had left her home around 6 pm on Saturday to attend her niece’s wedding in neighbouring Hazaripurwa village, about 600 metres away.She did not return home after the ceremony, prompting her family to launch a search.At around 9 am on Sunday, villagers near Rampurwa spotted a crocodile holding a woman’s body in its jaws in the Saryu River, about 3 km from her home.On seeing the horrifying scene, residents gathered at the spot, shouted and pelted stones at the crocodile, forcing it to release the body before retreating into the river.Several villagers, including the village head’s representative, then entered the river at considerable risk and retrieved the body.By the time the body was recovered, the crocodile had reportedly devoured both of the woman’s legs, while deep bite marks were visible on her face and other parts of her body.Family members suspect Ketki was attacked while crossing a bridge over the Saryu River on her way back from the wedding.Police reached the spot, sent the body for post-mortem examination and launched an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events and how the woman came to be in the river.Station House Officer Prakash Chandra Sharma said the woman appeared to have died in a crocodile attack. He urged people to avoid venturing near the Saryu River and other crocodile-infested areas unless absolutely necessary, especially during the monsoon when crocodile sightings increase.Ketki is survived by her husband and four sons, all of whom rushed home after learning of the tragedy.The incident has left the family and the village in mourning.
