MEERUT, June 2 -- As many as 52 snakes crawled out from beneath a ramp in a farmer's courtyard in Meerut's Simauli village on Sunday, triggering panic among residents and leading to their killing. The incident, captured in a purported video that went viral on social media, has prompted an investigation by the forest department.

The incident unfolded at the residence of farmer Mahfooz Saifi, who first spotted a 1.5-foot-long snake in the open area (gher) near his house early Sunday morning. Saifi killed the snake out of fear, unaware that dozens more were hidden below the ramp at his front door.

"By around 9 pm, a total of 52 snakes had come out," Saifi told Hindustan Times. As the snakes continued to emerge, fear spread quickly through ...