The woman identified as Chhaila Das sustained grievous injuries in her right hand in the crocodile attack and was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Sources said the reptile attacked the woman when she had gone to a nullah near her house to take bath after attending nature’s call at around 3 PM yesterday. Hearing her scream, locals rushed to the spot and started attacking the crocodile with a bamboo pole, following which it went back into deep water.

Soon after, the locals rushed the woman to Rajnagar Community Health Centre (CHC), from where she was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Her condition is stated to be stable, sources said .

Meanwhile, locals demanded concrete steps by the district administration and forest department to prevent such mishaps in future.