Overview
- Soudamini Mahala, 57, was dragged into the Kharasrota River near Kantia village in Jajpur on Oct. 6, an incident captured in a widely shared video.
- Police, fire brigade and forest teams launched searches after the attack, and villagers said attempts to rescue her failed.
- Authorities recovered her partially eaten remains the next day and sent them to the Jajpur government hospital for autopsy.
- A forest official said the family will receive compensation, with some reports citing an ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh.
- Officials urged residents to avoid the river as patrols and awareness drives are increased in a region where Bhitarkanika hosts an estimated 1,826 saltwater crocodiles.