Man attending mother-in-law's funeral dragged into river by crocodile in UP's Gonda

A 30-year-old man was dragged into the Saryu river by a crocodile while bathing, triggering a search operation by divers and local residents.

A 30-year-old man who had come from Ghaziabad to attend his mother-in-law's funeral here was dragged into the Saryu river by a crocodile on Wednesday while he was taking a bath, police said.

Station House Officer, Umri Begumganj, Chandan Kumar said a team of divers, along with local residents, are engaged in search of the victim.

The man remained untraced till late in the evening, he added.

Deepak, a resident of Pari Chowk in Ghaziabad, had come to Umri Begumganj village to attend the last rites of his mother-in-law.

During the funeral rituals, he had gone to bathe in the Saryu river near Sonauli Mohammadpur village along with relatives and family members, police said.

According to police, a crocodile emerged from the river and attacked Deepak, dragged him into deep waters, which triggered panic among those present at the spot.

Local residents tried to rescue him but were unsuccessful, police said.

The victim's father-in-law Babulal Sharma said the crocodile pounced on Deepak during the bath and pulled him under.

Police reached the spot after receiving information and launched a search operation, officials said, adding that the man could not be traced till late in the evening.