A farmer named Mumin Sheikh (55) has been admitted to hospital after being bitten by a Russell's viper in Shibchar, Madaripur. The incident took place on Sunday (7 July) night on the bank of the Padma in the Charjanajat area of Shibchar.

Mumin Sheikh is the son of the late Abdul Aziz Sheikh of Bashir Uddin Madbarer Kandi village in Charjanajat union of Shibchar upazila.

According to sources, snakes had become more common on the Padma bank at Shibchar for several days, so Mumin Sheikh surrounded his house with current net to protect against snakebite. A Russell's viper got caught in the net, and towards evening the trapped snake bit him. Mumin Sheikh and his sons beat the snake to death, and around 9pm they came to the upazila health complex with the dead Russell's viper.

Mumin Sheikh said snakes had been seen in his yard and the surrounding area for the past few days. "I fenced the house all round with net to protect the family from snakebite. Towards evening I saw a Russell's viper had got into the net. As I went to tie the mouth of the net, the snake bit me on the palm of my right hand. Then I was brought to Shibchar Upazila Health Complex."

Prince, the doctor on duty at Shibchar Upazila Health Complex, said relatives brought a patient named Mumin Sheikh from the Charjanajat area at 9pm on Sunday. He was given first aid and admitted. It initially appears the snake could not strike him hard, and he may have suffered only a slight scratch. The patient is now well and is being kept under close observation.

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