30-year-old snake catcher dies of cobra bite in UP

KANPUR: A 30-year-old man, who used to rescue snakes in Banda district, died after being bitten by a venomous cobra.Locals said Rinku Singh, a resident of Khaptiha Kalan village under the Pailani police station of the district, used to rescue snakes and then leave them in forest areas. On Saturday, Rinku rescued a cobra from a village well. However, the snake bit him in the evening, leading to his death.The body was sent for the post-mortem examination.Villagers said that Rinku was so fond of snakes that he had tattoos of snakes made on his entire body. Police out-post incharge Rajesh Mishra said, "As per Rinku's father Rameshwar, his son returned home from Mathura about a fortnight ago. As per him, his son was fond of catching snakes. As soon as he got the news that a snake had come out, he immediately reached there and rescued it and later released it in nearby jungles."