India, with its vast and picturesque coastline, has long been a magnet for tourists seeking sun, surf, and sand. Yet, the enchanting waters hide more than just coral treasures and marine life. Recent upticks in shark interactions have piqued both national and international interest. Our aim is to provide timely, updated details on shark attacks in India, ensuring that both locals and visitors are informed. With weekly updates, this page serves as a crucial resource for understanding the delicate balance between human activities and the mysteries of India’s deep blue.
Recent Shark Attacks in India
| Date / Time | Country / Area | Activity | Name | Sex / Age | Injury | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-12-2003 | INDIA ,Tamil Nadu | Swimming or surfing | Mark Moquin | M /35 | Left index finger lacerated | Tiger shark? |
| 09-10-1959 | INDIA ,Orissa | 5 fatalities, 30 injured | 6' shark | |||
| 02-04-1955 | INDIA ,Tamil Nadu | Fishing | Nedugattan | M /25 | Leg bitten | |
| 05-01-1952 | INDIA | Fishing, standing in water next to purse net | Ranji Lal | M | Lower leg lacerated | A 2' (0.6 m) brown shark |
| 06-28-1946 | INDIA | Bathing | Murugesan | M /14 | Serious injuries | |
| 02-18-1944 | INDIA | Bathing | male | M /12 | FATAL | |
| 02-26-1939 | INDIA ,Tamil Nadu | Bathing/Swimming | Harold Dickinson | M | FATAL | |
| 05-02-1938 | INDIA ,West Bengal | Bathing | 2 survived, 1 FATAL | |||
| 11-15-1928 | INDIA | dhow, occupant Eugene Wright | M /24 | No injury to occupants, shark bit keel | ||
| 05-27-1928 13h00 | INDIA | A.F.C. Smiot | M | No details | Shark involvement not confirmed | |
| 10-20-1893 | INDIA ,Bay of Bengal | Murder | A young pearl trader | M | FATAL | |
| 01-01-1890 | INDIA ,Tamil Nadu | Diving | a pearl diver | M | No details | |
| 10-03-1889 | INDIA ,Tamil Nadu | Swimming | B, a young English officer | M | FATAL | |
| 07-13-1888 | INDIA ,Gujarat | The Dwarka foundered | 6 crew | M | FATAL, only 1 of her crew of 7 survived | |
| 01-01-1881 | INDIA | More than 20 persons severely bitten by sharks this year. Almost all were fatal | ||||
| 05-15-1880 11h00 | INDIA ,West Bengal | Sutto Cumar Mukerjea, a.k.a. Haboo | M /20 | Left hand severed, arm & right calf injured | ||
| 05-14-1880 | INDIA ,West Bengal | Bathing in river | a widow | F /60 | Hands, forearm & left thigh lacerated, radial artery severed | |
| 05-02-1880 12h00 | INDIA ,West Bengal | Bathing in river | Sasti | M | FATAL, left forearm & hand bitten, brachial artery severed, died of secondary hemorrhage 11 days later | |
| 05-02-1880 10h00 | INDIA ,West Bengal | Bathing | N., a native boy | M /11 | FATAL, right leg severed at mid-thigh, femur severed | |
| 12-24-1879 | INDIA ,Andaman Islands | Swimming | Kenney | M /23 | FATAL | 3 sharks |
| 03-24-1871 | INDIA ,22ºN, 88ºE | Bathing | Deno | M /30 | FATAL, left thigh & buttock bitten, died of pneumonia 7 weeks later | |
| 06-19-1870 | INDIA ,22ºN, 88ºE | Bathing | male, a Hindu shopkeeper | M /40 | Left arm bitten, developed gangrene, surgically amputated | |
| 06-01-1870 | INDIA ,West Bengal | Bathing / standing | B., an Ooryah coolie | M /40 | Right foot & leg bitten, surgically amputated | |
| 05-18-1870 | INDIA ,22ºN, 88ºE | Bathing | H.E.S., a Hindu trader | M /39 | 4 irregular lacerated wounds on right arm | |
| 05-11-1870 | INDIA ,22ºN, 88ºE | Bathing | male, a Hindu confectioner | M /40 | 3 lacerated irregular wounds on anterior left thigh | |
| 05-13-1868 Before 10h30 | INDIA ,Hoogly River | Standing | male | M /35 | FATAL, upper left thigh, groin & buttocks severely bitten, leg surgically amputated at the hip | Identified as C. gangeticus by Dr. J. Fayrer |
| 01-01-1842 | INDIA ,Tamil Nadu | Washed off catamaran in the surf | male | M /7 | FATAL | |
| 07-02-1830 Evening | INDIA ,Tamil Nadu | Washing a dog | male | M | FATAL | |
| 04-30-1830 17h00-18h00 | INDIA ,Tamil Nadu | Bathing | Ensign Bromwick | M | FATAL | |
| 06-15-1817 Evening | INDIA ,Maharashtra | Swimming | Charles Anderson | M | FATAL | |
| 02-07-1808 | INDIA | Bathing | male | M | FATAL | |
| 04-13-1802 | INDIA | FATAL | ||||
| 01-01-1637 | INDIA ,West Bengal | Wading | Hindu pilgrims | |||
| 01-01-1617 | INDIA ,West Bengal | Indian people | ||||
| 01-01-1595 | INDIA ,Kerala | Ship lay at anchor & man was working on its rudder | male | M | Leg severed mid-thigh, hand severed, arm above elbow and part of buttocks. Not known if he survived | |
| INDIA ,Hoogly River | Indian | M | Thigh severely bitten, femur exposed & grooved | |||
| INDIA | male | M | Cut to arm while roping shark PROVOKED INCIDENT | |||
| INDIA ,Maharashtra | male | M | FATAL | |||
| INDIA ,Orissa | 5 people killed by sharks, 30 others injured | 1.5 m to 1.8 m [5' to 6'] sharks |
Are there certain seasons in India where shark activity increases?
In India, there are no specific seasons during which shark activity notably increases. Encounters with sharks remain infrequent and relatively consistent throughout all seasons of the year.
Which beaches in India have reported the highest occurrences of shark attacks?
While shark encounters are quite rare in India, when they do occur, they are most often reported along the beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, it’s important to reiterate that these incidents are extremely infrequent and these beaches, along with many others in India, remain popular and generally safe spots for swimming and other water-related activities.
What safety measures has India implemented to mitigate shark encounters?
India has taken several steps to mitigate shark encounters, ensuring the safety of beachgoers. Guidelines such as swimming in designated areas, avoiding the water at dawn or dusk, and steering clear from areas where fishing is happening are promoted. The authorities also promptly communicate any rare shark sightings, particularly along the beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to both locals and tourists through various channels.
