The gharial swims in the Subernarekha. Telegraph picture

Jamshedpur, June 28: A team from the Tata Steel Zoological Society rushed to Galudih, about 35km from here, today after getting information that one of its missing gharials has been spotted in the Subernarekha there.

However, the team, headed by zoo vet M. Palit, returned to the city empty-handed due to a strong current in the river.

Zoo director M.S. Jain told The Telegraph that they immediately despatched a team to Galudih after villagers informed them that the missing gharial had been spotted. “The police control room and some engineers of a nearby dam also alerted us. But, so far we have not been able to meet with any success,” he said.

He said that the exact location of the two other missing gharials was not known. “But they are in the Subernarekha. We are making serious attempts to nab the gharials,” Jain said, adding they have sought assistance from village youths and fishermen to help them out.

Jain said the gharials must be coming to the banks at night but attempts to catch them at that time would be risky. Attempts to lure the gharials out by throwing fish in the river has failed.

One alligator and four gharials were washed away after the zoo was flooded. While the alligator and one gharial were caught, three others are still missing.