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Time of India

Authorities brace to tackle snakebite cases in Mysuru this monsoon

Mysuru: In the last 17 months, Mysuru district reported 1,033 snakebite cases, including 84 in Mysuru city, with five fatalities, including one in the city. The district health authorities have constituted five teams to focus on snakebite cases and have arranged facilities to provide treatment for affected individuals within the district. Apart from villages, these cases were also reported in thickly populated residential areas of the city like Saraswathipuram, Srirampura, Dattagalli, KR Mill, and Gundrao Nagar. Snakes have also been rescued from busy commercial streets like Devaraj Urs Road and Irwin Road in the city. During the rainy season, snakes seek out warm or dry places, as it is the hatching season. They tend to hide near the edges of paddy fields, home gardens, wood piles, cattle sheds, shoe racks, and near LPG cylinder storage blocks. They also sneak into drainages, ditches, and even inside shoes and other storage areas. You Can Also Check: Mysuru AQI | Weather in Mysuru | Bank Holidays in Mysuru | Public Holidays in Mysuru "Snakes reduce food intake during the incubation period and start to hunt for rats, frogs, and other prey once the hatchlings emerge. People must avoid accumulated waste around the houses," snake rescuer Shivakumar told TOI. People must be vigilant while moving around at night. They can identify adult snakes like cobras, Russell's vipers, and rat snakes easily, but it would be difficult for them to identify juvenile snakes like kraits. Most of the adult snakes and hump-nosed vipers are dangerous, he explained. District surveillance officer Dr Nagaraju said venomous or not, people must seek immediate treatment in the nearest govt hospital without relying on home remedies after a snakebite. His department has stocked anti-snake venom under the emergency medicine list, even supplying it to community, taluk, and district-level hospitals. "The first aid for snakebite involves minimising bodily movement and immobilising the bitten limb. The victim must remain calm, as anxiety and panic may increase blood circulation, resulting in faster spread of venom. They must also avoid cutting the bite area, avoid attempting to suck out the venom, apply cold packs, and stop attempting to kill or catch snakes," he said. District health officer Dr P C Kumaraswamy told TOI that they will do an audit of fatalities due to snakebites.