Snake rescuer dies as Cobra bites his tongue during ‘public display’ in Odisha’s Bolangir

A tragic incident has been reported from Sindhekela police limits in Bolangir district, where a snake rescuer lost his life after being bitten by a cobra while attempting to display his skills. The deceased has been identified as Santosh Chanda, a resident of Sahupada in Sindhekela village. 

Known locally for his expertise in handling snakes, Santosh was often called by villagers whenever reptiles strayed into residential areas.

According to eyewitnesses, on Wednesday evening, Santosh was summoned to catch a cobra that had entered a villager’s house. After successfully capturing the reptile, he carried it to the village square, where he began to ‘perform’ with the snake in front of a crowd.  In the course of the display, the cobra struck and bit him on the tongue.

Santosh collapsed immediately, and locals rushed him to Bhawanipatna hospital in a critical condition. Despite efforts by doctors, he was declared dead shortly after admission. The incident has sent shockwaves across the locality, as Santosh was widely regarded as a brave snake handler. However, it has also raised concerns about the dangerous practice of playing with venomous reptiles.

Health officials and wildlife experts have reiterated warnings against such risky acts, stressing that cobras and other venomous snakes are highly unpredictable. They urged people to avoid any form of entertainment involving snakes, as it could result in loss of life.

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This unfortunate case serves as a stark reminder: snakes are not to be trifled with. Any encounter with such creatures should be reported to trained forest personnel, and under no circumstances should people attempt to handle or play with them.