Brahmapur: In a rare instance of human-snake coexistence, a young man in Odisha’s Gajapati district claims that a venomous cobra has been visiting his sleeping room every night for nearly six months without causing him any harm.
The unusual episode has been reported from Luhagudi village under Mohana block, where Ajay Patra, employed at a hotel at Luhagudi Chhak, stays in a small room behind the establishment after finishing his day’s work.
Ajay said the strange association began around six months ago when he spotted a cobra inside his room one night. Though startled by the sight, he decided not to disturb the snake and went to sleep on his bed. By morning, the reptile had disappeared.
The cobra, however, returned the following night and, according to Ajay, has continued the same routine ever since. It reportedly leaves the room during the day and comes back after nightfall, usually settling in a corner.
What has left Ajay particularly surprised is the snake’s behaviour. He claims that the cobra has never attacked him despite sharing the room with him for months. At times, he has reportedly found the snake on his bed when he opened the door. He also says the reptile has occasionally crawled over his legs while he was asleep.
Rather than growing increasingly fearful, Ajay says he has developed a sense of familiarity with the snake because of its apparently non-aggressive behaviour.
When he informed his family about the unusual experience, they reportedly attributed it to their Nag gotra, expressing their belief that the cobra would not harm him.
The incident has created considerable curiosity among villagers, many of whom are amazed by the reported six-month-long nocturnal visits of the cobra.
Despite the unusual account, experts caution that cobras are highly venomous wild snakes and should never be allowed to come into close contact with humans.
