LUCKNOW, June 24 -- A 14-year-old boy was dragged into the Saryu (Ghaghra) river by a crocodile on Monday morning near the Bhikhari Pur Sakarour embankment in Umribegamganj area of Gonda district. The incident occurred while the boy was bathing a buffalo with his friends. The victim, Rajababu Yadav, a resident of Choulhan Purwa Bachchi Majha village in Sonouli Mohammadpur, had gone to the river with two friends to bathe buffaloes near Spur No. 5. Eyewitnesses said a crocodile suddenly emerged and pulled Rajababu into the river. His companions raised an alarm, drawing villagers to the spot. Some captured videos of the crocodile in the river, which are now circulating on social media. However, officials said the authenticity of the footage is yet to be verified. A search operation was launched by divers with nets, but no trace of the boy was found till late evening. Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Tarabganj, Rajiv Mohan Saxena, reached the site and assured the grieving family of all possible help. He also confirmed that an SDRF team will join the rescue operation soon."This is a sensitive location. The river is home to several crocodiles. Efforts will be made to capture or relocate them," said SDM Saxena.Locals recalled a similar incident about a month ago, when 60-year-old Munna Yadav from the nearby Ganga Bechanpurwa village was killed by a crocodile at the same spot. His mutilated body was recovered later, adding to the fear among villagers.Rajababu was the youngest of three siblings and a Class 3 student at a convent school in Ismailpur. htc...