Snake scare at President's south retreat: Cobra caught, massive drive begins

SECUNDERABAD: A five foot-long cobra crawling towards the main building of the Rashtrapati Nilayam, the official southern retreat of the President of India, at Bollarum, Secunderabad, was caught by an expert team on Wednesday. A massive drive against the poisonous reptiles has been launched ahead of the annual southern sojourn of President Pranab Mukherjee from December 22 to 31. The President is scheduled to participate in several programmes in AP and Telangana during his stay in the city.

The Rashtrapati Nilayam, spread over 90 acres of lush greenery, is infested with snakes. It is a common practice for officials to launch a drive against the reptiles. The snakes caught are left in the forest while rare species are handed over to the Nehru Zoological Park. An expert has been engaged to catch snakes and monkeys. The monkey menace has come down of late.

“We began the exercise on December 5. In the past five years, as many as 65 poisonous snakes have been caught. The species include cobra,

Russell

's viper and krait. We will deploy four more snake catchers on Thursday. A wooden box is kept at RP Nilayam to keep the snakes caught from the premises,“ said Nehru Zoological Park assistant curator M Lakshman.

The expert team will maintain a round-the-clock vigil not only for animal movement but also for human intruders. Security has also been tightened on the premises, which has five types of fruit gardens spread over 30 acres. There is also a 50-metre underground but ventilated tunnel, that links the kitchen with the dining hall.