Lakhimpur Kheri, Sept. 24 -- A rise in human casualties in crocodile attacks this year has put the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) authorities, particularly officials in the Dudhwa buffer zone, on high alert.

Forest officials are also concerned about the difficulty of tracking the reptiles, whose movements and locations are often unpredictable.

Owing to this, the forest department is set to hold a massive awareness campaign to educate people how to avoid these reptile attacks.

DTR field director Dr H Rajamohan told Hindustan Times on Thursday that seven people had been killed and 14 seriously injured in crocodile attacks in the reserve area during the first six months of the current financial year.

Of these, six deaths and 12 injuries were...