A well-known snake catcher died after being bitten by a cobra while filming a social media reel at his home in Kanthapur village under Puri Sadar police limits.
The deceased was identified as Tapan Kumar Pradhan, who frequently shared viral videos of handling venomous snakes on Instagram.
According to officials, the incident occurred on Friday afternoon when Tapan was handling the reptile on his veranda. The cobra bit him multiple times on his fingers, elbow, and upper arm during the shoot.
Family members rushed him to a nearby private hospital before transferring him to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Puri.
However, doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Police have launched an investigation into the tragic incident, which has sparked renewed concerns over dangerous stunts for digital content.
