A six-foot-long crocodile stranded inside a large water tank in a sugar mill was rescued by the forest department in northern India's Uttar Pradesh on September 22.

The rescue operation was carried out in Bajaj-Hindustan sugar mill in Palia town of Lakhimpur Kheri district.

The employees responsible for the maintenance of the tank were shocked to find the reptile resting on the floor of the tank and immediately called for help.

Forest department officials were alerted and the crocodile was rescued after a four-hour-long operation.

Visuals show the crocodile being bound by rope to safely release it into the wild later.

It was a particularly tricky rescue operation as the tank was 10-foot-deep. The tank was drained before two men were sent inside who carefully tied the reptile and pulled it out of the tank.

Divisional Forest Officer Anil Patel said that the crocodile was a 3-year-old male that could have washed in with floodwater. It did not harm anyone and was rescued safely. He added that it has been released into the Sharda river.

A six-foot-long crocodile stranded inside a large water tank in a sugar mill was rescued by the forest department in northern India's Uttar Pradesh on September 22. The rescue operation was carried out in Bajaj-Hindustan sugar mill in Palia town of Lakhimpur Kheri district.

The employees responsible for the maintenance of the tank were shocked to find the reptile resting on the floor of the tank and immediately rushed out for help.

Forest department officials were alerted and the crocodile was rescued after a four-hour-long operation.

Visuals show the crocodile being bound by rope to safely release it into the wild later.

It was a particularly tricky rescue operation as the tank was 10-foot deep. The tank was drained before two men were sent inside who carefully tied the reptile and pulled it out of the tank.

Divisional Forest Officer Anil Patel said that the crocodile was a 3-year-old male that could have washed in with floodwater. It did not harm anyone and was rescued safely. He added that it has been released into the Sharda river.

Last year, a sub-adult crocodile had entered a police station in Palia. At least 20 crocodiles have been rescued by the forest team since April this year.