Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Social Media Reel Filming Claims Two Lives in Odisha
Two people in Odisha died in separate incidents while making social media videos.
A boy was hit by a train while filming near railway tracks.
Police said he had been warned before about the danger.
In another incident, a cobra bit snake catcher Tapan Kumar Pradhan several times while he was filming at home.
He was taken to hospitals but died.
Railway officials warned that stunts on tracks are dangerous and against the law.
Forest officials also said filming or handling protected animals such as cobras can be dangerous and violate wildlife law.
Authorities urged families and young people to take these risks seriously.
A boy died after being hit by a train while allegedly filming a reel near the Khordha-Balangir railway line in Boudh district on Friday.
Police said the boy had previously been caught filming near a railway track and his family had been warned.
In a separate incident, 28-year-old snake catcher Tapan Kumar Pradhan died after a cobra bit him while he filmed at his home in Puri district.
Pradhan was taken to a private hospital and then to Puri District Headquarters Hospital, where he was declared dead shortly after arrival.
Railway and forest authorities warned against railway-track stunts and filming or handling protected wild animals.
- Who
- A boy and 28-year-old snake catcher Tapan Kumar Pradhan died.
- What
- The boy was hit by a train while allegedly filming a reel; Pradhan died after being bitten by a cobra while filming.
- When
- Both incidents took place on Friday, within 24 hours of each other.
- Where
- The incidents occurred in Boudh district and Puri district, Odisha.
- Why
- The deaths occurred during attempts to film social media reels: one near railway tracks and the other while handling a cobra.
- Deaths
- Two people died in separate incidents within 24 hours.
- First incident
- A boy was struck by a train near the Khordha-Balangir railway line in Boudh district.
- Prior warning
- Police said the boy had previously been caught making reels near a railway track and his family had been cautioned.
- Second victim
- Tapan Kumar Pradhan was 28 and shared videos of handling venomous snakes on Instagram.
- Snake bite
- A cobra bit Pradhan on his fingers, elbow and upper arm while he was filming at home.
- Official warnings
- Authorities warned against railway-track stunts and filming or handling protected wild animals.