Alert issued for reptiles in Bijnor as monsoon begins

BIJNOR: The forest department issued an alert in all villages and towns in 11 forest ranges of the district, warning that reptiles might stray into human settlements as their habitats get submerged in rainwater. Two siblings died from snake bites in Hapur on Tuesday.
Bijnor sub-divisional forest officer Gyan Singh said, “We issued an advisory to safeguard against reptiles amid rising cases of snake bites during the monsoon.Most deaths last year occurred in Mandawar, Rehar, and Kiratpur areas. We urge farmers to be cautious in fields and avoid sleeping on the floor.” In 2023, 12 people died in the district from snake bites, and there were several reports of crocodile sightings.
Bijnor has hundreds of canals and a dozen rivers passing through it, including the Ganga, along with numerous lakes, ponds, and wetlands. During the monsoon, snakes come from the hills, and crocodiles camp in ponds, mostly in Harchandpur, Nagal Soti, Sofatpur, Mayapuri, Daibalgarh, and Rajarampur areas.