New Delhi, July 19 -- Residents of Vadodara were left shocked on Thursday night after an eight-foot-long crocodile was seen crawling across the Narhari Vishwamitri Bridge Road. The unusual sight brought traffic to a stop, as many people pulled over to watch and film the reptile on their phones.

Videos that have since gone viral show the crocodile pausing in the middle of the road before suddenly lunging towards the crowd, possibly in an attempt to scare off the group of shouting and excited onlookers. The incident occurred near the Commissioner's Bungalow, close to Narhari Hospital - an area not far from the Vishwamitri River.

Local authorities responded quickly and safely rescued the crocodile, later releasing it back into the river, a...