Huge Crocodile Seen On Roof Of Submerged House In Flood-Hit Karnataka

A video has emerged from Belgaum, one of the worst affected districts in flood-hit Karnataka, that shows a huge crocodile on the roof of a house submerged in water.

In the 15-second video, shared by news agency ANI, the 10-foot-long crocodile is seen perched on an asbestos roof. Locals, who apparently shot the video from a distance, are heard talking as they capture the giant reptile on camera.

The reptile, which was spotted on Sunday, escaped from the area before forest officials could reach the spot and rescue it as onlookers threw stones to get the animal off the roof.

"The crocodile later slipped into the water and disappeared in an hour as curious crowds approached it and made noise from all around," said an official.

Similar visuals have surfaced from Gujarat and Maharashtra where flood fury has unfolded in the recent weeks. 

Earlier this month, dramatic rescue of a crocodile in Gujarat's Vadodara was caught on camera. A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was seen rescuing a crocodile from a flooded street as curious onlookers shot videos on their phone.

Forty people have been killed and more than six lakh have been forced out of homes in Karnataka due to floods. "Since August 1, 40 people have lost their lives, 14 people missing, 5,81,702 people evacuated, 1,168 number of relief camps have been set up and 17 districts and 2028 villages affected," the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre said in a statement.

On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BS Yediyurappa conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit parts of the state. Mr Yediyurappa briefed the home minister about the rescue and relief operations, which are underway in the flood-affected parts, including the Belgaum district.