52 snakes rescued on Naga Panchami

HYDERABAD: 52 snakes were rescued from snake charmers on Thursday, on Naga Panchami, a festival dedicated to worshipping snakes. Most of them were rescued from Old City areas, Dhoolpet, Secunderabad and Chintalbasti, said to volunteers of Bharatiya Prani Mitra Sangh.The BPMS said snakes which were dehydrated and in poor state of health will be given treatment. BPMS general secretary Mahesh Agarwal said they are on a snake rescue drive in coordination with the forest department and other voluntary organisations. “A lot of people capture snakes either for worship or to make money from their hide,” Agarwal said. Capturing snakes or causing injury to them is punishable under the Wildlife Protection Act and surprise checks will continue on Friday too, he added. Awareness will be created among public that milk is poisonous for snakes as opposed to the traditional belief.