Wildlife / Flood Recedes, Deadly Visitors Move In: Venomous Cobra Found Inside Bhadrak Home

Bhadrak/Jajpur, Aug 4: As floodwaters continue to recede across parts of Odisha, snake sightings inside homes have increased, prompting safety concerns among residents.

Fresh incidents were reported from Bhadrak district on Tuesday, just two days after multiple venomous snakes were rescued from a house in Jajpur district, while dozens of snakebite and reptile attack cases have also been reported at a local health centre.

Venomous Snake Rescued In Bhadrak
A nearly four-foot-long monocled cobra was rescued from a house in Dulharapur village under Sohada panchayat in Dhamnagar block of Bhadrak district.

According to the family of Bishnu Charan Jena, floodwaters from the Baitarani River had entered their house recently, damaging furniture and household belongings.

On Tuesday morning, while rearranging a bed inside the bedroom, family members heard a loud hissing sound from beneath the wooden cot. After shining a torch, they discovered the venomous snake hiding underneath and immediately alerted the Snake Helpline.

Subsequently, the state coordinator of Snake Helpline Pramod Sahu and team member Jahangir Khan reached the spot and safely rescued the venomous reptile.

Four Snakes Rescued From House In Jajpur
In a similar incident reported two days ago, the Snake Helpline rescued one spectacled cobra, two monocled cobras and one Banded Krait from the residence of retired teacher Zaheeruddin Khan at Panasa village under Jajpur block.

The rescue came amid growing reports of snakes entering residential areas after the recent floods.

62 Snake, Scorpion And Reptile Bite Cases Reported
Health officials said 62 people suffering from snakebites, scorpion stings and other reptile attacks have received treatment at Mangalpur Community Health Centre in Dasarathpur tehsil over the past five days.

The rise in such incidents has heightened concern across Jajpur district following the recent floods caused by the Kani, Baitarani and Kharasrota rivers.

Also Read: 6,578 Died Due To Lightning, Drowning, Snakebites In Odisha Over Two Years: Minister

Experts Urge Caution During Cleanup
Experts said snakes often leave their flooded burrows and natural habitats in search of dry shelter after floodwaters recede.

They warned that reptiles may hide in roofs, cupboards, beneath beds, behind refrigerators, inside woodpiles and other concealed places, increasing the risk of snakebites while people clean and restore their homes.

Residents have been advised to thoroughly inspect houses before moving furniture or cleaning flood-affected areas and to immediately contact trained rescuers if a snake is spotted.