Both mother and child sustained injuries; boy remains under medical care.
New Delhi, August 20, 2025
In a heart-stopping incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich, a woman displayed extraordinary bravery by fighting off a crocodile with her bare hands to save her young son. The shocking event took place on Monday evening in Dhakia village when five-year-old Veeru was playing near a drain close to his home. Without warning, a crocodile emerged from the water and grabbed the child, attempting to drag him into the nullah. Hearing his terrified screams, his mother, Maya, 40, ran to the spot and threw herself into the struggle without hesitation.
Eyewitnesses described the ordeal as a five-minute life-and-death battle. Maya, unarmed at first, clawed at the reptile and tried to pry open its powerful jaws with her hands. Refusing to give up, she eventually found an iron rod and struck the crocodile with all her might. After repeated blows and immense effort, she managed to free her son from its grip. Recalling the terrifying moments, Maya said she did not think about her own safety, only about saving her child. “I screamed and jumped in. I fought with everything I had until it let go,” she said.
Both mother and son sustained injuries in the incident. While Maya suffered bruises and was treated before being discharged, Veeru remains hospitalised with serious wounds. Former village head Rajkumar Singh informed local authorities, after which Divisional Forest Officer Ram Singh Yadav and SDO Rashid Jameel visited the family. They assured that a special operation would be carried out to locate and capture the crocodile.
