This is the moment a Russell's viper, one of the world’s most venomous snakes, is rescued from an open well in India.

A resident of Phuleswari slum in Bhubaneswar spotted the snake inside the open well on February 13.

Five days later, volunteers of local organisation Snake Helpline dropped a hook and rope into the well to rescue the snake.

They pulled the rope slowly and managed to get hold of the snake before dropping it inside a bag.

The snake was later released into its natural habitat.

+CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE: MANDATORY CREDIT INDIA PHOTO AGENCY+

By
Deepali Ravi Mishra
Resident of Phuleswari slum in Bhubaneswar asked for help to rescue a snake fallen in a open well. Snake Helpline Secretary Subhendu Mallik reached the spot with an assistant.
The well was an old one with badly shaped sides which pose threat to the rescuers.
Subhendu used a well hook and rope to rescue the snake from the well. Well hook is an article made of iron hooks meant for recovering artifacts like buckets and others fallen in well.
The Russell's viper which was fallen 5 days back in the well had immediately clinged to the hook. Then the volunteers of Snake Helpline slowly pull the role and .... Here comes the deadly Russell's viper. Incidently this snake is the cause of maximum snake bite death in the world.
The deadly viper might have fallen in the well following it's prey such as rodent or frog.
Subhendu Mallik a snake rescue specialist has advised the snake rescuers of India to use the well hook for snakes like cobras and vipers. This is a safe method of rescuing snake from well where the rescuer remain safely outside the well. Because many rescuers unnecessarily try to enter into the well to rescue snakes which is more dangerous than snake with occupational hazards.
The Russell's viper snake rescued from the well was released into its natural habitat.