New Delhi  - A state assembly in eastern India returned to work Friday with a doctor and a snake catcher on guard a day after legislators fled the chamber after spotting a snake, news reports said.

The snake, believed to be a king cobra, was spotted near the central reporters table in the Orissa Legislative Assembly Thursday but could not be found after an overnight search by staff, police and a sniffer dog, the IANS news agency reported.

"The snake has not yet been traced," Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat said. "We have taken all precautions for the safety of the legislators. A doctor and a member of the snake helpline have been asked to remain in the assembly lobby."

Several legislators were seen entering the house wearing shoes rather than the slippers they usually don.

"We have come here wearing shoes on the advice of the assembly authorities," a legislator said.(dpa)