A man in Jabalpur, India, survived a 15-foot python attack while defecating in the open, rescued by villagers who killed the snake, spotlighting sanitation and wildlife risks.
Nightmare in the Bushes: Python's Fatal Coil During Open Defecation Sparks National Outrage:
A man in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district faced a nightmare scenario when a 15-foot python coiled around his neck and attempted to swallow him during an open defecation session in the woods. Rescued by quick-thinking locals who killed the reptile, the incident underscores the deadly intersection of poor rural sanitation and encroaching wildlife. As viral videos circulate, it reignites debates on India’s ongoing battle against open defecation and the human cost of habitat loss.
Python's Brutal Ambush During Open Defecation in Jabalpur:
The attack occurred on the morning in the forested outskirts of Kalyanpur village, about 20 kilometers from Jabalpur city. According to reports, Ram Sahai had ventured into the bushes for his daily routine due to the lack of household toilets-a common practice in many rural areas.
Eyewitness accounts describe the snake silently approaching from behind, wrapping its powerful tail around Sahai’s neck and attempting to constrict him. In a desperate struggle, Sahai managed to grip the python’s jaws, preventing it from fully engulfing his head. His cries for help alerted nearby villagers, who rushed to the scene armed with sticks and tools.
The python, estimated at 15 feet long and weighing around 30 kilograms, is seen tightly coiled around Sahai’s upper body as he sits on the ground, fighting for breath. Villagers repeatedly strike the snake until it loosens its grip and dies. Sahai was then rushed to a local hospital, where he received treatment for bruises and shock but no severe injuries. Forest department officials arrived later to investigate, confirming the snake’s species and noting that such encounters, while rare, are increasing in the region.
Hidden Perils in the Fields: Open Defecation, Wildlife Encounters, and India's Sanitation-Conservation Crisis:
Open defecation remains a persistent issue in rural India despite the government’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission), launched in 2014, which aimed to eliminate the practice by 2019. According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF’s Joint Monitoring Programme, as of 2022, about 15% of India’s rural population-over 100 million people-still lacks access to basic sanitation facilities. In Madhya Pradesh, the figure hovers around 20%, driven by poverty, cultural habits, and incomplete infrastructure rollout.
This incident highlights the hidden dangers of open defecation, not just health risks like disease transmission but also wildlife encounters. Jabalpur district, part of the Vindhya range, is home to diverse fauna, including pythons, leopards, and sloth bears. Human-wildlife conflicts have risen due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and climate-induced habitat shifts. The Indian rock python (Python molurus), protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, is non-venomous but capable of killing large prey through constriction.
Historically, similar attacks have been documented in India. In 2018, a woman in Uttar Pradesh was swallowed by a python while in a field, and in 2023, a farmer in Kerala survived a similar coil attack. These cases often occur in areas where human settlements border forests, amplifying calls for better wildlife management and community education. It exposes gaps in rural development and environmental conservation. Poor sanitation contributes to India’s annual 100,000+ diarrheal deaths, per WHO estimates, while wildlife killings violate laws and disrupt ecosystems. In Jabalpur, rapid urbanization has pushed animals closer to villages, making such clashes inevitable without intervention.