Sri Vijaya Puram, July 13: Days after a 25-year-old resident was killed in a suspected crocodile attack, residents of Maitilak village along the Jirkatang Road have urged the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to immediately construct a permanent reinforced concrete bridge, saying the village’s only crossing has become a serious public safety hazard.
In interviews with The Wave Andaman, villagers said frequent crocodile sightings around the bridge, recurring monsoon flooding and the deteriorating condition of the ageing wooden structure have together created a situation where even routine activities such as travelling to school, seeking medical treatment or commuting to work have become fraught with danger.
Residents said crocodiles are frequently seen resting beneath the bridge and are often spotted alongside it during high tides and periods of flooding. Several villagers said the recent death of the young resident, whose body was recovered after a two-day search following a suspected crocodile attack while attempting to remove accumulated rainwater from a traditional dhongi, has heightened fear across the village. They also referred to another recent incident in the area in which a child was reportedly dragged away, saying the community now lives under the constant threat of crocodile attacks.
According to several long-time residents who spoke to The Wave Andaman, the bridge has remained in a dilapidated condition for years and is routinely submerged during heavy rainfall, cutting off movement between both sides of the village until floodwaters recede. With no alternative route available, residents said the village remains effectively cut off whenever the bridge goes underwater during the monsoon.
The absence of street lighting has further compounded the danger. Villagers said crossing the bridge after sunset is particularly hazardous because of poor visibility and the regular presence of crocodiles in the adjoining creek.
Many parents who spoke to The Wave Andaman said the bridge is the only route used by children to travel to and from school. Whenever floodwaters overtop the structure, children are unable to cross safely and are forced to remain at home, disrupting their education.
Several villagers also described the challenges posed during medical emergencies. They said patients are often carried manually across the bridge because of its deteriorated condition. During periods of flooding, when the bridge becomes impassable, families have no safe means of transporting critically ill patients to hospital and instead rely on fellow villagers to carry them across while risking their own safety.
Residents further claimed that funeral processions are also disrupted whenever the bridge is submerged. According to villagers, bodies have on occasion been carried through the water beneath the bridge because the structure cannot be crossed safely.
Many of those who spoke to The Wave Andaman, including retired Forest Department personnel and former employees of other government departments, said they have lived in Maitilak for more than two decades and have repeatedly approached the gram panchayat and district administration seeking construction of a permanent bridge. Despite repeated representations over the years, they said no permanent solution has been provided.
Residents said the issue extends beyond Maitilak and reflects a broader pattern of human-crocodile conflict across South Andaman. They pointed to another fatal incident in late April 2026 in which 49-year-old fisherman A. Mani was reportedly attacked and killed while fishing near Shoal Bay. Search and recovery operations were subsequently carried out by Forest Department personnel and Marine Police teams.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to one of India’s largest populations of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), the world’s largest living reptile and a Schedule I protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The species is widely distributed across the Andaman group of islands, inhabiting mangrove forests, tidal creeks, estuaries, rivers and coastal wetlands. As human settlements and livelihood activities increasingly overlap with crocodile habitats, incidents of human-crocodile conflict have become a recurring concern in several parts of South, Middle and North Andaman, particularly around creeks and mangrove-lined waterways that are routinely used for fishing, transportation and other daily activities.
Appealing for urgent intervention, residents urged the Administration to replace the existing wooden bridge with a durable reinforced concrete bridge equipped with proper street lighting, protective barriers and other safety measures. Speaking to The Wave Andaman, villagers said the demand was no longer merely about improving infrastructure but about protecting lives. They said the present condition continues to endanger residents, disrupt children’s education, delay emergency medical access and leave the community fearing that, unless corrective action is taken, more lives could be lost.
