A brief moment of panic unfolded at Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s public grievance hearing in Bhubaneswar on Monday morning when a small snake was spotted inside the premises.
According to officials, the reptile appeared in the waiting hall designated for persons with disabilities (PwDs) just minutes before the CM’s arrival. “The snake fell from the roof and hid beneath a backpack,” one official said.
Alarmed by the sight, attendees quickly alerted authorities, who contacted Snake Helpline for assistance. “We received the call at 9:25 am. I rushed to the CM’s grievance cell and rescued a one-foot-long yellowish snake,” said Subhendu Mallik, general secretary of Snake Helpline. He added that the snake would be released back into the wild.
Around 2,000 people — including women, children, PwDs, and journalists — were present at the time. The incident occurred during the CM’s 14th public grievance session, attended by several ministers and senior officials.
The swift rescue ensured the programme continued without further disruption.
