Kochi: A massive python was captured on Friday morning from the Jewish Cemetery near Ernakulam St. Teresa’s College, ahead of President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to the college for its centenary function. 

The snake was spotted by workers cleaning the 200-year-old cemetery compound during preparation for Murmu’s scheduled visit to the college. The cemetery, situated along Lt: Unniyattil Karunakaran road, was covered with thick bushes and grass, as it had not been cleaned for nearly two years reportedly due to lack of funds with the Archaeology Department, making it an ideal refuge for the reptile. However, a direction was given by the city police to clear the compound, citing severe security reasons ahead of Murmu’s visit. 

As workers began clearing the grounds, they were shocked to find the huge python coiled in the undergrowth. Officials from the Forest Department were alerted, and they reached the spot soon. The snake was safely captured and transported away from the site. The python will be released in the forest under Malayattoor division on Saturday. 

The cemetery, once envisaged as a heritage tourism site, had been handed over to the Archaeology Department for conservation and renovation. However, the work had stalled in recent years. 

The capture comes just weeks after another dramatic python rescue in the city. On October 1, a giant python clinging to a tree inside the Post Metric Hostel near Maharaja’s College in Ernakulam was safely captured after a 10-hour-long operation.