Brahmapur: A 12-foot-long king cobra was rescued from the Ratneswari temple in Ganjam district after a priest came face to face with the giant snake while opening the temple door for the evening aarti.
The incident occurred at the Ratneswari temple located behind Chikiti block on Friday. The priest, who arrived at the temple as usual for the evening rituals, was shocked to find the huge venomous snake inside the premises.
He immediately stepped back without entering the temple and alerted the Chikiti forest department. Following the information, members of a local snake helpline reached the spot and began efforts to rescue the reptile.
The rescue operation proved challenging as the massive king cobra remained inside the temple. The Snake Helpline members proceeded cautiously and spent nearly an hour trying to safely capture it.
During the operation, an unusual scene unfolded when the snake helpline members played a dhol they had brought with them. As the drumbeats echoed through the temple, the king cobra reportedly remained calm and still, allowing the rescuers to continue their efforts.
After nearly an hour of careful handling, the team successfully rescued the 12-foot-long snake without causing harm to it. The king cobra was subsequently released safely in a forested area.
