Trichy: A video showing movement of crocodile purportedly on the Cauvery riverbed, which has been doing the rounds in social media for the past three days, has created panic among city residents .Since the Aadi Perukku festival, which attracts scores of people to the riverbed for holy bath, is round the corner, residents have raised concern at the crocodile movement. Forest department, however, said that there is no need to panic as movement of crocodile in a particular stretch of Cauvery riverbed was usual.The video, lasting less than a minute, shows a crocodile crawling into the shallow water in Cauvery when a group of locals move closer to record its movement. According to local forest personnel, there is considerable crocodile population near Kudamurutti bridge across Karur bypass road, where the Kudamurutti river joins Cauvery.The fact that this particular stretch always has stagnant water ensures food for these reptiles. He added that availability of fish in abundance is also the reason for them to move in this stretch.“However, there are hardly any reports of these reptiles coming out of this place or any man-animal conflict in the recent time,” said personnel from Trichy forest range.The water being polluted in this stretch, there are hardly any chances of people coming to this area to take bath, said the official.Speaking to TOI, district forest officer, D Sujatha said that she has instructed officials to keep sign boards warning people against moving around in the stretch where the movement was recorded.

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