For this tribal man of Chhattisgarh, snake venom is like beer

JASHPUR: This dude has a bizarre addiction of consuming snake venom which leaves him sedated and makes him feel content like the ones under influence of liquor.
PiluSai, 47, a resident of Basajhal region of Jashpur district has had this unusual habit of consuming snake venom for more than 15 years and he claims that with regular consumption, venom does not adversely affect his body.
"It started when I was in twenties that I saw a godman who visiting our region was consuming snake venom and he challenged my willpower asking me to consume one spoon. I dared and soon I felt sedated as one feels when drunk. Like others are addicted to alcohol, I am hooked on to snake venom," Pilu told TOI.
Whenever he feels the need, Sai doesn't have to struggle a lot considering that Jashpur is famous for having large population and species of snakes; he finds them in the neighbouring forest or the open fields. Earlier, after extracting the venom, he used to mix it with uncooked rice and then consume it, but lately, he said that he drinks it raw.
"Sometimes I store it during summer, as snakes aren't found commonly in the season. It needs to be stored in a cool place just like beer, so I pour it in a vessel and keep the addictive venom under wet soil. And my liquor remains fresh," Pilu smiled.
Pilu is also famous for catching snakes and it is believed that snakes obey him. "During monsoon, snakes come out in large numbers and people call me for rescue. I realize I actually rescue the snakes and not really the people. Catching snakes is how I pass my time and after extracting venom from varieties of snakes during monsoon, I leave them safely in the forests," he said adding that he was bitten by snakes more than five times but nothing happened.
District's snake information centre in charge, Ajay Sharma refutes belief of locals that snakes communicate or obey this venom-drinking man, but he agrees that Pilu works as a social worker by catching snakes from houses and saving people. "He isn't scared of snakes and has rescued thousands of them without any training," Sharma said.
For this snake man Krait and Pidichipi are the favourite long snakes whose venom he relishes.