"The crocodile took my arm, but my life was saved and I am happy about it," says Prasad Mahato.

46 – year – old Mahato was attacked by a croc on Wednesday when fishing in the Echarni river near Kumaro in eastern Chitwan. He is now undergoing treatment at the Alive Hospital and Trauma Centre in Bharatpur.

The croc ripped apart his right hand in the attack. "The hand is gone, but our man is alive and that is a big matter," the victim's nephew Bifal Mahato said.

Mahato, a native of Dharmapur in Khairhani ward no 13, had gone fishing at 3 pm with a ready-made fishing net. He did not notice that a croc was lying near the bank when he was placing the net. "The croc snatched my hand and made five twists and took me in the water," Mahato spoke of the horrifying experience. "It tried to take me away, but I took my stand and it took my hand away," he added.

Mahato had punched the amphibian, but did not immediately have a stick to jab at it. A friend nearby also kicked and punched the croc, but it was ineffective.

Mahato had returned home nine months ago from migrant work. He is using the money he earned abroad for the treatment. RSS