Kendrapara, Oct. 12: A 40-year-old man who had risked his life and saved seven women and children from sure death in a crocodile-infested rivulet died today. The news sent shockwaves across far-flung Okilopala and Satabhaya villages of Kendrapara district.

“Sahadev Samal died today of pneumonia. He was suffering from fever. We failed to save him despite our best efforts,” said Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty, the medical officer of Rajnagar.

Tragedy struck yesterday in Satabhaya, which has been hit by constant erosion since it is on the coast. A mechanised boat engaged in evacuating pregnant women and children from the village due to cyclone Hudhud, had capsized in the Baunsagadi rivulet resulting in the death of a nine-year-old girl. An eleven-year-old is still untraceable and is feared drowned.

“He was a brave soul. I am alive today because of him. I am deeply shocked to know that he is dead. He had jumped into the water body to save us. He was an expert swimmer. He towed me to safety,” narrated 39-year-old Babuli Mallick, a survivor from Magarkanda .

Rajnagar tehsildar, Khirod Behera said: “I had boarded the boat which capsized. The mishap took place while it was taking a turn towards the ghat. People had jumped into the river to rescue the people. Sahadev was one of them.”

The locals living in Satabhaya region depend on country boats that help them cross the creek everyday. They cross it with utmost precaution since it is a part of the Bhitarkanika river system and are infested with crocodiles.

People living in Satabhaya gram panchayat are literally living on the edge in the face of unabated erosion by the sea over the years. They are sandwiched between fury of the sea and government apathy. Measures to relocate them to a rehabilitation colony are stuck in bureaucratic tangle for over two decades.