A Class 7 student was bitten by a snake inside her classroom at an aided school in Neyyattinkara during Christmas celebrations on Friday. Following this, Kerala government initiated an inquiry into the incident.
According to a report on Manorama, Neha (12), a resident of Mekon, suffered a snakebite on her leg while attending festivities at the upper primary school. Teachers discovered a bite mark on her leg after she complained of severe pain. Upon inspecting the classroom, school staff found a venomous snake, identified as a hump-nosed pit viper, which they subsequently killed.
Neha was initially taken to a nearby primary health center and later shifted to the Government General Hospital. Due to the critical nature of her condition, she was transferred to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday morning. Hospital sources have since confirmed that her condition is now improving, as reported by PTI.
Reacting to the incident, General Education Minister V Sivankutty announced that the Director of General Education has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation and submit a report at the earliest.
The presence of a venomous snake in a school classroom has raised concerns about safety standards in educational institutions. Parents and local residents have called for stricter measures to ensure student safety and prevent similar incidents.
Last month, eight-year-old Asbiya Fathima lost her life to a snakebite in Vannamada, Kerala. Asbiya, the daughter of Muhammed Jubairali and Sabiya Begum, was sleeping on a mat in a single-room shed alongside her grandmother, Rahmath (45), who was also bitten by the snake.
Rahmath was the first to notice the bite and raised an alarm, waking up family members and neighbours. They quickly rushed her to the Chittoor Taluk Hospital for treatment, according to a report by Manorama. Later, Asbiya unexpectedly collapsed and began vomiting, displaying severe symptoms of distress. It was found out that she was bitten by snake but she passed away without responding to treatment.