Mumbai: In a scary incident, a two-feet-long baby crocodile was found in the BMC-run swimming pool at Dadar in Mumbai on Tuesday. The puppy was successfully caught with the help of experts and handed over to the forest department.
The incident happened at Mahatma Gandhi Swimming Pool at Dadar in the early hours of Tuesday. According to the civic authorities, the reptile was spotted in the pool at 5.30 am.
A lifeguard on duty found the crocodile moving in the pool, as he checked the waters before it was opened to the public. He immediately informed the pool authorities and the baby crocodile was safely captured using a cleaning net. The pool authorities secured the crocodile in a drum and notified the forest department for its safe relocation to the natural habitat.
A sanitation worker noticed the baby crocodile around 5.30 am while inspecting the Mahatma Gandhi Jaltaran Talao, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, before the facility was opened for use to the members, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a release.
According to sources, a swimming pool cleanliness employee was bitten while capturing the crocodile puppy. He was immediately rushed to a hospital and given medical assistance for his quick recovery.
A video of the incident went viral online showing the crocodile puppy swimming in the pool and making rounds here and there.
Every morning the swimming pool is carefully inspected by the concerned staff before opening it for the members, the pool coordinator Sandeep Viashampayan said.
“An investigation has been launched to find out how the crocodile ended up in the swimming pool, and based on it safety precautions will be taken in future,” deputy municipal commissioner (gardens) Kishor Gandhi said.
However, the incident has raised question marks over the safety of swimmers at the swimming pool, said locals, who alleged that previously a snake was also found inside the pool.
