Crocodile Attack in Chitwan Leaves 56-Year-Old Man Dead Near Rapti River

A 56-year-old man, identified as Kul Bahadur Chokhal, was killed in a crocodile attack in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-23, Chitwan, after he went to the Hariyali Community Forest to cut grass and never returned home.

According to local authorities, the incident happened near the Rapti River on Tuesday, prompting a search that ended with the recovery of his body by police and community members.

What happened in Chitwan

Chokhal had gone out to collect grass, a routine task for many rural households, when he was attacked near the riverbank. The District Police Office in Chitwan confirmed his death and said the body was found in a mutilated state.

The recovery effort involved local authorities and police after Chokhal failed to return home, raising concern in the area before the grim discovery was made.

A recurring danger near Nepal's river corridors

Chitwan has long faced human-wildlife conflict, especially in areas close to rivers and forests where people regularly enter for fishing, fodder collection, and daily labor. Crocodile attacks in the region have repeatedly drawn attention to the risks faced by people living near the Rapti and other waterways.

This latest death adds to that pattern and highlights how quickly ordinary work near the river can turn fatal.

Community impact

Incidents like this are especially alarming for local residents who depend on forest and river-edge resources for daily survival. The death of Chokhal is likely to renew calls for stronger safety awareness, better monitoring of high-risk riverbanks, and improved coordination between local communities and wildlife authorities.

For now, the focus remains on the tragic loss in Bharatpur and the continuing danger posed by crocodiles in the Chitwan landscape.