done: arunHyderabad: Panic gripped residents of Baba Nagar near the Nehru Zoological Park (NZP) in Bahadurpura after a crocodile was spotted on the banks of the Musi river on Sunday evening.The alarm was first raised through a helpline call around 5 pm, followed by videos circulating on social media. “We immediately informed the forest department’s anti-poaching unit and zoo officials,” said Bahadurpura station house officer Praveen Kumar. “My team also visited nearby areas to warn people not to approach the river,” he said.This isn’t the first sighting in the area. A similar incident occurred in Sept 2020, when a crocodile was believed to have escaped from the zoo. However, NZP director Sunil S Hiremath dismissed that possibility this time. “Our enclosures are secure, and all crocodiles are accounted for,” he said.Veterinary expert MA Hakim from the zoo suggested the reptile may have wandered in from nearby water bodies like Himayatsagar lake or Mir Alam Tank, especially after recent heavy rains. “In monsoon, crocodiles often move from lakes into connecting rivers,” he said.The crocodile, estimated to be 5 to 10 years old and weighing nearly 200 kg, is still on the loose. Mahesh Kumar, from the anti-poaching unit, said attempts to capture it have failed so far. “It surfaces briefly before retreating into the water. Catching such a large animal will be a major challenge,” he said.Authorities are continuing the search and urging locals to stay away from the riverbanks.
