Nag Panchami Special: Snake Rescues Fall To Five In Indore— Lowest In 5 Years, But Snake Charmers Remain On The Streets
Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Recorded snake rescues and seizures during Forest Department operations in Indore fell to five in 2026, the lowest figure in the five-year record supplied by the department. The decline came as snake charmers carried live snakes through parts of the city during Nag Panchami this year. Forest Department records show 35 snakes in 2022, 35 in 2023, 17 in 2024, 28 in 2025 and…
Indore recorded the lowest number of snake rescues in five years during the 2026 Nag Panchami festival, with only five snakes rescued and seized by the Forest Department. The decline in rescue and seizure numbers could be attributed to the city's efforts to train and warn snake charmers about the dangers of harming snakes. The Forest Department formed three teams to monitor the city, covering various areas including Navlakha, Bhanwarkuan, Ring Road, Rajwada, Vijay Nagar, Annapurna, Labaria Bheru and adjoining regions.
Despite the decline in snake rescues, some snake charmers continued to carry live snakes through parts of the city during Nag Panchami, moving from house to house with their animals as residents offered prayers. Ashish Yadav's team rescued a snake in Jinsi, while a 65-year-old snake rescuer, Kailashnath, recounted a particularly challenging rescue involving a snake estimated to be 12 feet long during the monsoon season.
He advised residents to seek professional help if they encounter a snake and not to attempt capturing or treating it themselves.
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