The staff of Belagavi district hospital in Karnataka were left in shock when Shahid, a resident of Hunchanatti village, arrived with the snake that bit him to ensure he received the correct medical treatment. Shahid, skilled in handling snakes, captured the snake after it bit him as he was releasing it on the village outskirts. Despite the tense situation, he remained calm and brought the snake in a plastic jar to the hospital.
Shahid explained to the staff that he was unsure of the snake species and wanted to help doctors identify the correct treatment. “There was no other intention behind getting it here,” he stated. After receiving treatment, Shahid left the hospital with the snake.
A similar incident occurred a year ago in Odisha when Srimanta Mallicke brought a snake in a plastic bag to the District Headquarters Hospital, Jajpur, after being bitten. This caused panic among other patients, and the medical staff called the snake helpline for rescue. Doctors advised that bringing a photograph of the snake would suffice for identification and treatment.
“We appreciate the courage of the youth, but we do not recommend such actions. Handling a snake without proper knowledge and training can be dangerous and lead to fatal consequences,” cautioned a doctor from District Headquarters Hospital, Jajpur.