The Hiss... is ominous.

Rain and increased construction activity in farms are driving serpents out of their natural habitats into villages, especially in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, leaving people scared and worried.

As can be expected, there has been a spurt in incidents of snake-bite in residential areas as also on farms.

In August alone, as many as 300 cases were reported. According to the data provided by the district administration, this is a big jump over previous years.

Increasing numbers

In Avaingadda, 387 snake-bite cases were reported in the first eight months of this year against 382 in 2016 and 466 for whole of 2017. In August, there were over 30 cases.

In Koduru village, already 40 snake-bite cases have been reported against nine last year. Other villages like Nagaya Lanka are also witnessing a similar trend; Nagaya Lanka reported 15 cases so far this year.

Nearly 65 per cent of the reported bites were by venomous snakes. As per government data, there have been two deaths so far, but local sources peg the number at over a dozen.

These numbers exclude those who approached private hospitals.

Sanat Kumari, District Coordinator of Hospitals, told BusinessLine that all measures for ensuring safety of farmers and general public have been taken. “We have enough anti-venom doses in Primary Health-Care Centres as well.’’

The government has deployed snake-catchers in the Divisima region and Forest Department officials are also being involved.

Divine intervention

Interestingly, serpent gods have also been invoked. The Endowments Department conducted a ‘Sarpa Yagam’ to appease snakes and save public.

According to R Aengals, a scientist with the Zoological Survey of India, currently working in Sundarbans, loss of habitat and food sources could be the key reasons behind the sudden spurt in snakes coming into areas inhabited by people.

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