Indian cobra freed from steel mesh after swallowing toad

This is the moment brave volunteers rescued a 2.5ft-long – and highly venomous -Indian cobra after it got stuck in a steel mesh.

The snake had swallowed a toad and tried to escape through a drainage outlet by a temple when it got trapped in the mesh due to its bloated abdomen.

Caretakers from the holy site, in Rajarani colony, Bhubaneshwar, in India’s eastern state of Odisha, immediately called the Snake Helpline – an organisation which focuses on the health of snakes and assists in rescues.

This Indian cobra became bloated after swallowing a toad and then got stuck in a steel mesh drainage outlet at a temple

Caretakers from the temple, in Rajarani colony, Bhubaneshwar, in India’s eastern state of Odisha, called the Snake Helpline – an organisation which focuses on the health of snakes and assists in rescues

Two volunteers rescued the reptile by digging the drainage outlet for almost 15 minutes. With the metal ring still around its abdomen, the snake was taken to the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, in Bhubaneshwar, where it was freed with a metal cutter

Indian cobra: Deadly snake that kills 10,000 a year

The Indian cobra is a highly venomous snake found on the Indian subcontinent.

It is one of the most dangerous snakes in the country and kills around 10,000 people a year.

A bite can cause paralysis, respiratory failure or cardiac arrest.

Such symptoms are manifested between 15 minutes and two hours after the bite – leading to death unless treated.

They are found in several countries including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The cobra does not usually attack humans unless threatened.

If confronted by one, it is best to stay calm as they react aggressively to sudden movements.

Two volunteers, Atul Baral and Subhendu Mallik, rushed to the spot and managed to rescue the reptile by digging the drainage outlet for almost 15 minutes.

With the metal ring still around its abdomen, the snake was taken to the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, in Bhubaneshwar, where doctors, along with the volunteers, freed it with a metal cutter.

Dr Biswadip Jena said: ‘Since the snake had struggled to pull itself out, the metal had cut through the skin.

‘After freeing the snake from the mesh, we stitched its wound.’

After being freed, the snake can be seen spewing out the toad which had caused its abdomen to swell.

Dr Jena added: ‘The snake was given antibiotics and kept under observation.

‘Now it has resumed its normal movement and will be very soon released into its natural habitat.’

The Indian cobra is one of the most dangerous snakes found on the Indian subcontinent – and kills around 10,000 people a year.

After being freed, the snake – one of the most dangerous types on the Indian subcontinent – spewed out the toad which had caused its abdomen to swell

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