An 11-year-old boy, Siba Pradhan, was freed after nearly six hours trapped headfirst in a narrow rock crevice on Chorakhol hill in Odisha, while a large python sheltered nearby. Fire and Emergency Service teams from Odagaon, Nayagarh and Bhubaneswar used hydraulic jacks and steady communication to shift rocks carefully and keep the child calm. Siba was taken to a local health center in stable condition, and responders received public recognition and a Rs 25,000 reward.
11-Year-Old Freed After Nearly Six Hours Trapped in Rock Crevice With Python Nearby
Photo Credit: iStock
An 11-year-old boy was rescued after being trapped headfirst for nearly six hours in a narrow rock crevice on Chorakhol hill in Odisha, India, while a large python sheltered close by.
Local teams from the Odisha Fire and Emergency Service — including units from Odagaon, Nayagarh and Bhubaneswar — carried out a careful, coordinated operation about 250 feet above the valley floor to free the boy without disturbing the snake as daylight faded.
According to reports, Siba Pradhan, from Nayagarh district, had gone into the forest near Kanipada village with his uncle to collect honey. He crawled headfirst into a tight gap between boulders to reach a honeycomb and became stuck, unable to pull himself back out.
Rescuers maintained constant contact with Siba, monitored his breathing and kept him calm while they worked. Using hydraulic jacks and incremental rock shifting, teams created enough space to extract him without triggering a collapse or provoking the python, which was sheltering in a nearby cave. The operation was supervised by Fire Service Director General Sudhanshu Sarangi.
"It was a technically challenging task but the rescue team remained composed and pulled it off," Sarangi told The New Indian Express.
After being freed, Siba was taken to the Odagaon community health center and reported to be in stable condition. More than 300 villagers and relatives gathered on the hill and below during the rescue.
Authorities emphasized that the operation balanced saving the child with avoiding harm to the python. Pythons are protected under national laws in India, and officials often aim to relocate such animals safely to reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
The state publicly acknowledged the rescuers' efforts: the personnel involved were awarded Rs 25,000 (about $262), and political leaders, including Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik, praised the team's professionalism and courage.
This incident highlights risks faced by families who rely on forests for food and income — such as honey collection — and the need for careful, trained responses when wildlife and unstable terrain are factors.
Help us improve.
