Crocodiles that live in rivers like Chambal, Sharda and Ghagra in the state is worst affected by rising water levels. According to the forest department, change in river courses or rivers flowing over the danger marks during monsoons have led to crocodiles landing in some unusual places.

On July 22, forest department officials caught two crocodiles from Fatehpurwa village in Chinhut block on the outskirts of Lucknow. A crocodile was also spotted in a pond near Bakshi Ka Talaab area.It is, however, yet to be caught.

Since last year, the department has caught around a dozen such crocodiles who have wandered into areas inhabited by humans.

Terming the phenomenon, nothing unusual, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests B K Patnaik said: “This often happens when the rivers are flooded.”

Sometimes, the crocodiles are even cited in ponds or drains where there are no rivers around. “It is possible that during floods, baby crocodiles may have washed into drains. They may go unnoticed then, but when they grow up, they become visible,” Patnaik added.