Crocodile Sighted at Sacred Pajiradka Confluence, Bathing banned

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Belthangady : Fear has replaced faith along the banks of the sacred Netravati river after a crocodile was sighted near the revered confluence with the Mrutyunjaya river, sending shockwaves through pilgrimage centres in Beltangady taluk.

The reptile was spotted on the sandy shores close to the Pajiradka Sadashiveshwara Temple in Kalmadka village, a site considered highly sacred where devotees regularly perform ritual bathing in the water—recently acclaimed as the purest among Karnataka’s rivers.

Immediate Safety Warning Issued

The unexpected presence of the predator has caused widespread anxiety among locals and pilgrims. Forest department personnel immediately rushed to the location to inspect the area, with residents providing video evidence of the crocodile moving around at night.

“We have reports of multiple crocodile sightings across different stretches of both the Netravati and Mrutyunjaya rivers recently,” a Forest Department official stated.

Authorities have issued a strong advisory:

Visitors and residents along the riverbanks are urged to exercise extreme caution.

The public is strictly advised to avoid bathing in the river until the animal is safely captured and relocated.

Appeal for Swift Action

The presence of the crocodile so close to the temple’s bathing ghats has heightened fears of a potential tragedy. Devotees are urgently appealing to the authorities for the swift and safe capture and relocation of the animal to ensure the security of these vital pilgrimage centres.

The situation remains under close monitoring as authorities plan their course of action to resolve the threat.