Youth loses arm in crocodile attack

Not many people live to tell the tale of a crocodile attack. Mudit Dandwate, a 26-year-old IIT graduate, escaped from the jaws of death after a reptile bit his arm off.

On Sunday morning, Dandwate — a resident of Indiranagar — and his female friend had gone to Mahadeshwara temple, located 38 km from city centre. The duo had also taken their two dogs with them. After visiting the temple, Dandwate and his friend decided to take a plunge in the Thattakere lake adjacent to the temple in Anekal forest division, along with the dogs. The place is just 15 km from Bannerghatta National Park.

Smelling food and sensing some movement in the still waterbody, a juvenile crocodile attacked them around 7.30 am. The reptile grabbed Dandwate’s left arm and tried to pull him inside the water.

His friend screamed for help and four forest department officials, who were perambulating the area, saved them out. Dandwate’s left forearm was chewed off by the crocodile.

The forest staff rushed him to Sagar Hospital on Bannerghatta Road, after which he was shifted to Hosmat Hospital for specialised treatment, reports DHNS from Bengaluru. Dr Thomas Chandy, director and chief of orthopaedics and joint replacement centre, Hosmat Hospital, told DH that it is rare for anyone to survive a crocodile attack.

“I applaud Mudit’s courage and strength. He is in the ICU. His left forearm has been chewed off by the crocodile. Crocodile jaws are very strong. Debridement (removal of damaged tissue from a wound) has been done.

The procedure will be repeated on Monday and then an artificial limb will be attached,” he said. Dr Priyadarshan K, plastic and cosmetic surgeon, along with a team of doctors, is attending to Dandwate. Mudit Dandwate is a native of Nagpur. The IIT graduate came to Bengaluru two years ago and launched a startup.

His parents have rushed to the city upon receipt of the news. In the meantime, the forest department is also looking into its rules to pay for the medical treatment of Dandwate.