What began as a routine school day turned into a frightening experience for a Class 3 student when a venomous snake was discovered inside her school bag.
The incident occurred in Yelwala after the girl, Ruchita, returned home from school. As she was about to unpack her books, she sensed unusual movement inside her bag. Alarmed, she immediately dropped it near the garage and alerted her parents.
Swift rescue averts tragedy
Realising the seriousness of the situation, the family contacted noted rescuer ‘Snake’ Shyam, who has been rescuing reptiles in Mysuru for nearly 49 years. Shyam, who has handled over 98,000 snake rescues, rushed to the house and carefully inspected the bag.
On opening it, he found a nearly 2.5-foot-long venomous snake coiled between the books. The reptile was safely captured and later released into a suitable natural habitat. No one was injured in the incident.
Safety advisory for parents and children
Speaking about the incident, Shyam said such occurrences can happen when children leave school bags open in playgrounds or place them on grassy areas, where snakes may seek shelter.
He advised parents to ensure that children keep their bags zipped at all times and check them before use. With rising temperatures, snakes often move towards cooler, shaded spaces, increasing the likelihood of encounters in residential areas.
He also urged children to remain cautious while playing outdoors, particularly near bushes or thick vegetation during the summer months.