Russell's vipers (chandrabora) have been turning up one after another in the coastal areas of the Meghna in Chandpur over the past few years. The latest was seen at around 9am on Friday (28 June) on the bank of the Meghna in the Harisabha area.

Local resident Kartik Das said workers shouted when they saw the Russell's viper. Locals then came, wrapped the snake in a current net (a fine nylon fishing net) and beat it to death.

Over the past few years, Russell's vipers have been seen in the Meghna coastal area, including Koralia Road in Chandpur town and several parts of Matlab Uttar, Matlab Dakshin and Haimchar upazilas. Of these, the Russell's viper caught on Koralia Road in the town was taken away by the forest department.

Dr Shakhawat Hossain, medical officer at the Chandpur civil surgeon's office, said anyone bitten by a venomous snake must be brought to hospital quickly rather than taken to an ojha (faith healer). Every effort should be made to reach hospital as fast as possible after the bite, he said.

Dr AKM Mahbubur Rahman, superintendent of Chandpur Government General Hospital, said the same antivenom is given for the bite of any venomous snake. The hospital has 130 antivenom doses in stock, and a request for another 200 has been sent to the health ministry, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.