Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Woman Escapes Home Crocodile With Son in Ratlam
A woman named Sitabai was sleeping at home with her seven-year-old son.
Around 10 p.m.
on Wednesday, she woke up and saw a crocodile inside.
She and her son got out through a window.
Villagers heard her screams and tied up the crocodile with ropes.
They said officials did not come that night, even though they had been told.
The next morning, a forest ranger took the crocodile to a forest office.
A veterinarian examined it, and it was kept in a cage.
Villagers think low water levels during drought may be bringing wild animals closer to homes.
Sitabai escaped through a window with her seven-year-old son after seeing a crocodile inside their home.
She woke around 10 p.m. Wednesday and saw the 5-foot-7-inch crocodile moving toward her.
Villagers restrained the crocodile with ropes and said police and forest personnel did not arrive that night despite being informed.
Forest ranger Amit Soni took the animal to the Bajna Forest Range Office on Thursday morning, where a veterinarian examined it.
Villagers said drought-related falling water levels could be pushing wildlife toward populated areas.
- Who
- Sitabai and her seven-year-old son; villagers and forest officials also responded.
- What
- Sitabai escaped through a window after finding a crocodile inside her home; villagers restrained it and forest staff took it to an office.
- When
- Wednesday night, around 10 p.m.; the crocodile was taken to the forest office Thursday morning.
- Where
- Navagaon near Kundanpur village in Bajna, Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- The crocodile was believed to have entered through an open door. Villagers suggested falling water levels amid drought might be driving wildlife toward populated areas.
- Crocodile length
- 5 feet 7 inches, or about 170 cm
- Estimated age
- About two years
- Child with Sitabai
- Her seven-year-old son
- Incident time
- Around 10 p.m. Wednesday
- Forest office arrival
- Thursday morning
- Nearby waterway
- The Mahi Dam is about 20 km from Navagaon; the Telni River connects to the Mahi River system.