Warangal, Sept. 11: A highly venomous and extremely rare ‘Banded Krait’ snake has been spotted near the borders of the Eturunagaram forest area in Telangana’s Mulugu district, causing alarm among the public and passersby.
Travelers moving at night were startled to see the snake—characterized by its black and yellow banded pattern—crossing the road. This marks the first time such a distinctive snake has been sighted in the dense forests of Telangana.
According to forest department personnel and veterinary experts, the Banded Krait is highly venomous. Doctors warn that the chances of survival following a bite from this snake are extremely slim. Just a few days ago, a snake of the same species, measuring about 5 feet in length, was spotted near Ashok Nagar village in the Khanapur Mandal of Warangal district. Locals initially mistook it for a toy snake but, upon observing its movement, immediately alerted the forest department and snake rescuers. It was subsequently skillfully captured and released into the deep forest.
How did a snake native to China and Thailand reach this part of India? According to forest officials, snakes of the Banded Krait species are primarily found in countries such as China, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. In India, they are rarely sighted, appearing only in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Officials suspect that these snakes may have strayed or hitched a ride on trucks or cargo vehicles, eventually reaching the Pakhal and Eturnagaram forest areas in Telangana.
The Forest Department has appealed to the public, stating, “If such rare and dangerous snakes are spotted, people should not panic and kill them. Instead, they should immediately inform the nearest forest department staff or local snake rescuers.”