Crocodile Surfaces at Beechupally Pushkar Ghat; Priest Performs Puja for Rainfall and Welfare

In an extraordinary event that left devotees and locals astonished, a large crocodile surfaced from the swollen Krishna River and crawled toward the Beechupally Pushkar Ghat near the Anjaneya Swamy temple in Jogulamba Gadwal district, Telangana. The occurrence took place amid heavy seasonal rainfall and rising water levels along the river basin, which frequently causes aquatic wildlife to venture closer to human settlements along the shoreline.

As the reptile made its way onto the ghat premises and entered an adjoining structural area, initial panic spread among the visitors gathered for weekend prayers. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Anil Sharma, a local priest at the ghat who customarily performs rituals for ancestors, approached the resting reptile. Instead of fleeing, the priest sat directly before the creature to execute traditional religious proceedings.

The priest conducted formal worship rituals, chanting sacred Vedic mantras while offering turmeric, kumkum, and flowers directly to the crocodile. Explaining his actions to onlookers, priest Anil Sharma stated that the crocodile is traditionally regarded as the divine vahana (vehicle) of Lord Varuna, the Hindu deity associated with water and rain. He clarified that the rituals were performed to pray for favorable rainfall, agricultural prosperity, and the overall well-being of the region's residents.

Following the completion of the religious ceremony, authorities were alerted to ensure public safety and the safe handling of the wild animal. Police personnel on duty informed the local forest department officials, who promptly dispatched a specialized rescue team along with experienced local fishermen to the Pushkar Ghat location.

The joint team successfully secured the two-hundred-kilogram reptile using heavy ropes and netting techniques without causing injury to the animal. Forest personnel subsequently transported the crocodile to a deeper, isolated section of the Krishna River, releasing it back into its natural aquatic habitat away from human interaction zones.

Local forest and police officials reiterated their warnings to devotees, farmers, and fishermen residing along the Krishna River basin in Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, and Jogulamba Gadwal districts. Due to persistent rainfall and rising water levels, citizens have been strictly advised to remain vigilant, avoid entering deep waters, and refrain from approaching riverbanks where wildlife may seek temporary refuge during monsoonal surges.