Crocodile Drags Boy into Ghaghara River After Farm Work; Orphaned Sunil Loses Life Before Parents’ Kin’s Eyes

July 21, http://Muthokotha.in: After finishing work in the fields, Sunil went to the riverbank, his body weary. The 12-year-old boy had gone there simply to wash his hands and face. A killer lay in wait within the river. In an instant, it surged out of the water and dragged him into the depths. His uncle held onto his nephew’s hand and pulled with all his might for seven minutes, and villagers rushed to the scene, but no one could match the crocodile’s strength.

Hours later, the mutilated, lifeless body of Sunil Singh, a sixth-grade student, was recovered from the river. Sunil was from Tikuri village in the Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh. The entire nation has been shaken by the incident, which occurred last Thursday afternoon. A video of the event, filmed by villagers, has gone viral.

Sunil Singh was a resident of Tikuri village in Bahraich. Having lost both his parents earlier, he was being raised by his uncle and three sisters.

Last Thursday afternoon, Sunil had gone with his uncle to plant paddy seedlings in the village fields. On the way back home after finishing work, he stopped at the banks of the local Ghaghara River, intending to wash the mud off his hands and face.

According to eyewitnesses and villagers, Sunil was sitting at the water’s edge washing his hands when, suddenly, a crocodile—approximately 10 to 12 feet long—leapt out of the murky water and clamped its jaws onto his leg. In the blink of an eye, it began dragging him away into the water.

Sunil’s uncle, Vijay Singh, said in a tearful voice, “I didn’t let go of his hand. For nearly seven minutes, I tried to pull him out of the water. I was shouting to call the villagers, but the crocodile was so powerful that I couldn’t manage it alone. Eventually, it dragged him into deeper water. I couldn’t save my nephew.”

Other villagers present at the scene also rushed over with sticks and ropes. However, all attempts proved futile against the strong currents of the Ghaghara River and the ferocity of the crocodile. The reptile dragged Sunil deep into the water, leaving no way to rescue him.

Local authorities and the Forest Department were notified immediately after the crocodile dragged Sunil away. Villagers also conducted an extensive search in the river. After hours of searching, Sunil’s mutilated, lifeless body surfaced some distance away around 10 PM. Local residents captured the incident on their mobile phones; the video shows the killer crocodile dragging Sunil through the water while villagers scream from the riverbank. The video went viral on social media almost instantly. The Bahraich police have confirmed that they have verified the authenticity of the viral footage.

Sunil hailed from a humble family in Tikuri village and was a sixth-grade student. Having lost his parents, he lived with his uncle and assisted him with household chores. In addition to his schooling, he also worked in the fields.

Teachers at the village school remarked, “Sunil was a very quiet boy who did well in his studies. He was the only son among three sisters; his dream was to get a job when he grew up and arrange for his sisters’ marriages.”

A pall of gloom descended on the village upon hearing the news of Sunil’s death, and wails of grief filled his home. Police and Forest Department officials arrived at the scene shortly after the incident. Sunil’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

Prakash Singh, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Bahraich, stated, “This is a tragic accident. In accordance with government regulations, the family will receive compensation of ₹4 lakh for a death caused by a wild animal attack, and the process has already begun.” He added that the menace of crocodiles in the Ghaghara River is not new. Villagers have been advised to remain cautious, and warning signs will be installed along the riverbank.

Incidents of crocodile attacks in the Ghaghara and Saryu rivers are not uncommon in Bahraich and the surrounding districts. Every year during the monsoon season, as water levels rise, crocodiles often venture close to human settlements. According to Forest Department data, at least 15 people have died in crocodile attacks in Bahraich district over the past five years. The victims are mostly women and children who go to the river to wash clothes or fetch water.

Local residents complain that although the Forest Department occasionally captures crocodiles, new ones appear after a short while. There are no adequate barricades or warning systems along the riverbanks.

The villagers share a common grievance: “How many more lives must we lose?” Anger has swept through Tikuri village following Sunil’s death. Villagers claim that despite repeatedly informing the administration, no permanent measures have been taken to catch the crocodiles in the river. They say, “This river is our lifeline; it provides water for our paddy cultivation. But now, we are afraid to go near it. If the administration doesn’t catch the crocodiles immediately, more lives like Sunil’s will be lost.”

After a journey marked by life’s trials and tribulations, a life was lost, leaving behind three sisters and a host of unanswered questions—Sunil is gone. He leaves behind three young, innocent sisters. His uncle, Bijay Singh, still cannot sleep at night; whenever he closes his eyes, the image of that seven-minute, futile struggle—holding onto his nephew’s hand—haunts him.