Vishwamitri turns into a living nightmare — 417 crocodiles confirmed, experts warn of looming urban disaster.

Vadodara is fast earning a fearsome new identity as India’s “Crocodile City”, with a shocking 417 crocodiles now confirmed in the Vishwamitri River, experts reveal.

In a startling survey, 103 crocodiles were spotted in just a 2-kilometre stretch, underlining the dense and dangerous reptile population thriving right alongside urban neighbourhoods.

Wildlife experts say the Vishwamitri has become one of the largest urban crocodile habitats in the country, where mugger crocodiles have adapted to polluted waters, shrinking forests, and human activity.

Experts warn that rapid urban expansion, encroachment along riverbanks, and untreated sewage have pushed crocodiles deeper into the city, increasing the risk of human–animal conflict.

Repeated sightings near bridges, residential areas, and low-lying colonies during monsoon floods have triggered panic among locals, even as conservationists stress that the reptiles are protected under wildlife law.

With hundreds of crocodiles sharing space with lakhs of residents, Vadodara now faces an urgent challenge: coexist safely—or brace for escalating encounters in a city where the river no longer belongs to humans alone.