Bareilly, Sep 28 (IANS): An 18-year-old girl who was reportedly dragged into a canal by a crocodile remains untraceable even after a two-day long rescue operation.

The incident took place in Dulaipurva village under Padua police station limits on Tuesday evening when the girl Kamini Vishwakarma was herding her cattle.

One of Kamini's friends said, "We were playing in a nearby field when Kamini ventured towards the Sharda canal as she wanted to wash her feet and then disappeared."

Forest officials, who reached the spot, said that the canal had become the temporary home for a large mugger crocodile, likely due to the Sharda river's overflow during the monsoon season.

Padua police station SHO Hanumant Lal Tiwari said, "There is no possibility that she is alive now as people witnessed the crocodile lunging and dragging her into the water while she was washing her feet near the canal. This happened suddenly, and she was unable to break free. We have strongly advised the locals to avoid the canal until the crocodile either leaves the area or is successfully rescued by the forest department."

Kamini was the only daughter of Jaipal Vishwakarma, a farmer.