Shaken Villagers in UP’s Rampur Hunt for Predatory Snakes

Rattled by the looming danger of snake bites, villagers have now turned to superstition.

Residents of Param village in Rampur search for snakes. (Photo: ANI Screengrab)

Residents of Param village in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district are living under the constant fear of snake bites. In just a fortnight, at least three people in Param have died of snake bites. Besides, over fifty villagers have been bitten by what locals claim is a single ‘ichchaadhaari’ (form-changing) snake.

Sandhya’s 18-year-old daughter died after being bitten by a snake when she had gone out to relieve herself. Another woman was bitten by a snake while out to gather firewood.

Rattled by the rising snake bite incidents, villagers now fear going outdoors. Some even refuse to send their kids to school. Unable to find a solution, villagers have now turned to superstition to ‘pacify’ the ‘ichchaadhaari’ snake.

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman