Md Nazrul Islam, a snake charmer (ojha), caught a Russell's viper in Faridpur's Charbhadrasan upazila, thinking it was a python. He was bitten by the venomous snake and later arrived at hospital with the snake in hand.

The incident happened on the morning of 11 July in the Hajiganj char area of the upazila. Nazrul Islam is the son of Kalachan Sapuria of Goalimandra village under Louhajang police station in Munshiganj. He now lives in the Bede (river gypsy) settlement at Palbarir Math, Munshibazar, in Faridpur town.

According to local sources, Nazrul went to the Hajiganj char area to catch snakes. A snake had become trapped in fishermen's "China dowari" net in a canal of the Padma river. Called by the fishermen, he saw the striped snake, took it for a young python and tried to catch it by hand, and the Russell's viper bit him. He still caught the snake and brought it back.

When he felt unwell, family members took him to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital in Faridpur. The emergency department identified the snake as a Russell's viper and he was admitted quickly. He is still under treatment there.

Meanwhile, the snake, about three and a half haat (cubits) long, has been kept in a net sack in front of the old building of the medical college hospital, and curious people have gathered to see a live Russell's viper.

Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, assistant registrar of the hospital, told Jagonews that because he had been bitten by a Russell's viper, the patient was being kept under observation for 24 hours. "His condition is still not out of danger. He has been given antivenom injections. He is now receiving saline, injections and other treatment. If needed, antivenom will be given again."

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