How would you feel if you discovered that cobras had made their nest underneath your home? A terrifying chill would run down your spine, right? That’s what Bijay Bhuyan may have felt when an entire family of cobras were rescued from his mud house at Shyampur village in Bhadrak district of Odisha on Saturday.

While initial reports had put the number of baby cobras at 107, forest officials confirmed on Monday that there were only 62. They also rescued three adult cobras and five common kraits with the help of personnel from snake helpline. The cobras belonged to the species Indian Cobra (genus Naja Naja).

The snakes had made their home next to the mud walls of the house. Snakes lay eggs in cooler temperatures and the mud walls may have provided the ideal temperature for incubation.

After a thorough search and digging up the mud wall, Bhadrak Divisional Forest officer Amlan Nayak said, they found the adult cobras and kraits in the house. The entire operation lasted three days, beginning with Bhuyan’s daughter catching hold of a snake on Friday.

Bhuyan informed the Snake Helpline team immediately which rescued 20 hatchlings the very night. They launched a second operation on Saturday to catch the bigger snakes.

All hatchlings and three adult cobras – two male and one female – and five common kraits were found in good health and later released in the Hadgarh wildlife sanctuary in Keonjhar.

Nayak said normally a cobra can lay 20 to 40 eggs and it takes 60 to 80 day for the snake hatchlings to emerge out of the shells. He added that since the snakelets number 62, there is a possibility of more adult female cobras in the area.

Villagers reportedly claimed that Bhuyan knew that snakes lived in his house. They reportedly said the fear of snakes kept them awake through the night. Children were prevented from venturing outdoors and people walked with torches.

Bhuyan later said he had seen the adult cobra in the past and even offered prayers and milk believing in its divinity. He has also reportedly requested the Odisha government for financial assistance for repairs of his house that received damage during the operation.

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