11-foot King Cobra Rescued From Shiva Temple In Odisha’s Ganjam

Bhubaneswar: Panic gripped devotees and locals on Saturday after a massive 11-foot-long king cobra was spotted inside the premises of a prominent Shiva temple in Odisha’s Ganjam district.

The incident occurred at the Gupteswar Temple in the Choudhury Tikarapada area under Digapahandi block. According to reports, a local villager first noticed the giant reptile slithering within the temple complex. Moments later, a loud hissing sound from the highly venomous snake startled him, prompting a swift retreat from the site.

Alarmed by the potential danger, the villager raised a hue and cry, drawing the attention of nearby residents and passersby. With panic spreading in the area, the Snake Helpline was immediately alerted.

Responding without delay, Snake Helpline members Ramchandra Sahu and Jagannath Sahu rushed to the spot and launched a carefully coordinated rescue operation. Exercising caution amid a growing crowd, the rescuers managed to safely extract the king cobra from the temple premises and guide it into a nearby paddy field, where it was eventually brought under control.

After being secured, the snake was safely released into a nearby forest, ensuring no harm to either the reptile or the local population.

The rare sight of such a gigantic king cobra attracted a large number of onlookers, including commuters on the adjoining road. Officials said the timely intervention by the Snake Helpline team helped avert a potentially life-threatening situation, with the incident concluding peacefully and without injuries.