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Warning: The following story contains details of a fatal incident involving dangerous animal handling that some readers may find disturbing.
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A 20-year-old man from the Indian state of Telangana tragically lost his life after placing a highly venomous King Cobra in his mouth in a reckless attempt to gain social media fame.
Mochi Sivaraj, a resident of Deshaipet village in Warangal district, was the son of a local snake rescuer and had basic snake-handling training from his father, Ganga Ram.
Sivaraj, no stranger to dangerous stunts, had previously shared photos holding large snakes. However, in a bid to shoot a viral video, he pushed the boundaries further by placing the cobra’s head inside his mouth.
The stunt turned fatal when the cobra bit him, injecting venom directly into his system.
The chilling video, which has since gone viral, shows Sivaraj confidently standing in the middle of a road. Facing the camera with folded hands, he is seen running his hands through his hair and giving a thumbs up as the snake writhes in his grasp, trying to escape. Moments later, the venomous bite sealed his fate.
The video sparked a wave of reactions online, with many condemning the dangerous pursuit of instant fame. “People are so reckless with their lives,” wrote one user.
Another commented, “This shows how addicted to social media today’s youth are. They are risking everything for fleeting popularity.”
This tragic incident echoes a similar case in Andhra Pradesh in July, where a heavily intoxicated man, Madhubabu Nagaraju, was hospitalised after provoking a cobra for over an hour. Despite warnings from bystanders, Nagaraju persisted in tormenting the snake until it bit him, landing him in critical condition.
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