Koraput: A 40-year-old woman from Malkangiri district caught the venomous snake that bit her, locked it inside a plastic container and took it to hospital so that doctors could identify the species and administer appropriate treatment. The incident took place at Kurumpali village under Mathili block on Wednesday evening.Manima Nayak was busy with household chores when a venomous snake bit her on the foot. Ignoring the pain, she caught the snake, placed it inside an empty plastic container and sealed it before informing her family about the snakebite. As her condition started worsening, her family called the 108 ambulance service and took her to the sub-divisional hospital at Mathili.The ambulance carried not only the snakebite victim but also the snake in the container, leaving doctors and hospital staff surprised on her arrival. “We brought the snake because identifying the species can help doctors assess the case more accurately. In many snakebite cases, the snake is not seen, making treatment more challenging. We thought this would assist the doctors,” the family member said. Doctors admitted Manima to the hospital, where she was placed under observation and was discharged on Thursday after her condition improved.Basant Sahu, medical officer at Mathili SDH, said the patient’s prompt arrival at the hospital and the identification of the snake were helpful during treatment. “Knowing the species of snake can be useful in clinical assessment. However, we strongly advise people not to attempt catching a snake after being bitten, as it poses a serious risk. The safest course of action is to remain calm, immobilise the affected limb as much as possible and seek immediate medical attention,” he said.
