A priest died due to snakebite while performing puja in the Suka Mahadev Temple at Bhatipura under Balishankara block in Sundargarh district on Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Rupan Sandha (62). The incident took place when Sandha was
performing puja for a devotee, who had purchased a new bike. Suddenly, a cobra which was present in the temple bit him.
Temple managing committee members rushed Sandha to the District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.