A 64-year-old man, Barku Dhangade, whose leg was amputated following a crocodile attack at Vihar lake, recounted the harrowing encounter to this newspaper. He detailed the events of last Sunday morning that led to his life-altering injury. Dhangade is currently recovering in Sion hospital, where doctors have said that his injury will take around two months to completely heal. He spoke with this newspaper correspondent over the phone, narrating exactly what had happened.

“Last Sunday morning (September 15), I went to Vihar Lake to retrieve a fishing net I had placed earlier. Using a tyre tube for support, I approached the net to remove it. As I worked, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my left ankle and realised something had bitten me. To my shock, it was a large crocodile. Panicked, I started shouting, and fortunately, the crocodile released my foot and disappeared into the water,” Dhangade said.