With the recent rains in Bengaluru inundating many areas, the control room of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is receiving around 65-70 calls every day regarding snake sightings on private properties.
Prasanna Kumar, snake rescuer of BBMP, A. told Indian Express That his team releases the rescued snakes back into the forest. “This month, we have seen an increase in calls from Vidyaranyapura, Yelahanka, JP Nagar, RR Nagar, Kanakapura, Jakkur and other areas. It rained in these areas, water entered their burrows and drove out snakes, increasing their chances of entering private properties. The lake in Yelahanka was also in spate,” he said.
Kumar said the snakes commonly seen inside homes are cobra, Indian rat snake, Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper, common krait and water snake. “They hide inside washing machines, vehicles, kitchens and even shoes to keep themselves warm,” he said, adding that “Bengaluru has 22 species of snakes.”
He said that if any snake is seen, then the residents should call the BBMP control room. The civic agency provides the vehicle to the rescue team and the problem is usually resolved within an hour. “Some people try to catch snakes with sticks, which is when they bite. We advise them to call the control room and rescue teams will drop them at their residences. Cobras, Russell’s vipers and saw-scaled vipers are highly venomous,” he said.
To avail the services of snake rescuers, residents can contact BBMP control room at 080-22221188 or Karnataka Forest Department at 1926.