TIMES OF INDIA (New Delhi) 05 August 08 Snakes wiggle into school
Chandigarh: As if snakes lurking in the city's greenbelts and parks weren't scary enough, four reptiles made an appearance at Government Model High School, Sector 26, on Sunday, sending the UT education department into a tizzy.
Calling it a seasonal hazard, the department has hired a so-called professional to catch snakes from city schools. Interestingly, the person who was appointed on Monday had asked for Rs 750 ($18.70) per snake. Now, he will visit two schools everyday and will pocket Rs 100 ($2.50) for it, besides a similar sum for every catch.
On Sunday, while railway examination was underway at the school, labourers engaged for renovating toilets reportedly spotted snakes. '' After a labourer saw a snake, we called the professional for help. However, not only did he ask for Rs 750 per snake, he said we will have to locate the snake and only then would he catch it,'' said school principal Purnima Vats. '' It was a difficult day. We had to be very careful,'' Vats added.
Learning about the incident, DPI (schools) SK Setia decided to hire the professional. '' He will visit two schools everyday and get Rs 100 for it,'' he said. Justifying the delay in catching snakes, the department officials said the problem was a common one during monsoons.
13-yr-old dies of snakebite
A 13-year-old girl, Kamlesh, lost her life after she was bitten by a snake in Chaplana village near Morni. According to the police the incident took place when the victim, a 7th class school student, went to the fields to assist her father who was working there. She was rushed to Government Hospital, Sector 6, where doctors declared her brought dead. The police handed over her body to her parents after post-mortem.
IND Press: Snakes wiggle into school