This is the dramatic moment a crocodile was captured by angry locals after it entered a home in northern India.

A family in the Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, was startled to discover the reptile inside their house in the early hours of Monday, August 4.

The beast was reportedly found near the toilet around 1 am, prompting the frightened residents to call for help from nearby neighbours.

Authorities, including local police and forest department officials, were also alerted and responded to the scene.

Heavy rainfall made the rescue operation more difficult, as the ground around the house had turned muddy and slippery.

The crocodile was finally secured around 8 am on Tuesday.

Footage shows villagers and emergency responders working together to tie a rope around the reptile and drag it through the mud-covered ground.

Officials later confirmed that the 15ft predator was safely released into the Saryu River at Gaighat.

Residents expressed relief after the creature was relocated, and no injuries were reported during the incident.

Crocodiles are large, semiaquatic reptiles that feed on insects, crustaceans, snails, small fish, frogs, and tadpoles. However, they see humans as easy prey, with an estimated 1,000 people falling victim to these animals each year.

India has two main crocodile species - the saltwater crocodile and the mugger crocodile, which inhabits freshwater rivers.