A team of rescuers captured a giant king cobra in a village in eastern India and then treated the reptile for its injuries.

The 12-foot-long snake entered a village near Chilika today (December 30) causing panic among local residents.

A team from Snake Helpline went to rescue the animal but found that it had been hit by a brick thrown by a terrified villager.

Subhendu Mallik, general secretary of Snake Helpline, examined the snake and found that it had possibly broken a few ribs.

With the help of the forest officials, he moved the snake to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology of Odisha Agricultural University in Bhubaneswar.

An X-ray of the injured region revealed four broken ribs.

The snake was given antibiotics and a painkiller injection and the university vets decided to put the snake in a cast.

A three-inch diameter PVC pipe was cut into two halves and padded with cotton and a bandage.

The snake was sprayed with iodine powder to prevent contact injuries and the splints were then secured on either side of the broken ribs.

Dr. Indramani Nath, who led the medical team, said: "The ribs, near the heart, were fractured. Any awkward movement of the broken ribs could have injured the heart itself.’’

"It was risky handling the king cobra as an antidote for its bite is not available in India," said Subhendu.

"King cobras are the largest venomous snake in the world. It has enough venom to kill 20 people at a time,” he added.

Doctors expect the snake to recover in three weeks.

A 12-feet-long king cobra entered a village near Chilika in eastern India on December 27 and triggered a severe commotion.

A team from Snake Help went to rescue the snake and found that the huge reptile, which had been hit with a brick by someone in the crowd, was bleeding.

Subhendu Mallik, general secretary of Snake Helpline, examined the snake and found that the brick had possibly broken a few ribs. With the help of the forest officials, he moved the snake to the Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology of Odisha Agricultural University in Bhubaneswar.

An X-ray of the injured region revealed four broken ribs. The snake was given antibiotics and painkiller injection and the University vets decided to put the snake in a cast.

A three-inch diameter PVC pipe was cut into two halves and padded with cotton and micropore bandage. The snake was sprayed with iodine powder to prevent contact injuries and the splints were then secured on the either side of the broken ribs.

Dr. Indramani Nath, who led the medical team, said: "The ribs, near the heart, were fractured. Any awkward movement of the broken ribs could have injured the heart itself.’’

Subhendu said: It was risky handling the king cobra as an antidote for its bite is not available in India. King cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world. It has enough venom to kill 20 people at a time.”

Doctors expect the snake to recover in three weeks. Till then it will be under observation in a plastic crate.

“Since it is winter the snake can survive without food for days. We will release it in the wild after it heals,” said Subhendu.