A 35-year-old snake catcher from Kanuvai, Coimbatore, tragically lost his life after being bitten by a highly venomous viper while attempting to capture it at a workshop in Kalappanaickenpalayam.
Coimbatore: A tragic incident has shocked the city as a skilled snake catcher lost his life while attempting to capture a highly venomous viper. The incident occurred on Thursday night in Kalappanaickenpalayam, Coimbatore.
Muralidaran, a 35-year-old snake catcher from Kanuvai area, received a distress call about a snake sighting at a workshop in Kalappanaickenpalayam. Upon arrival, he discovered a three-foot-long viper, known for its potent venom, hiding under a table.
As Muralidaran attempted to carefully catch the snake by its tail, the reptile unexpectedly struck, biting him. In the ensuing struggle to secure the snake in a bag, Muralidaran lost his balance and fell. Witnesses immediately alerted the 108 ambulance service, forest department, and local police.
Despite quick efforts to extract blood from the bite site, Muralidaran tragically succumbed to the venom within five minutes of the bite, dying at the scene.
Forest department officials and Thudiyalur police arrived at the location, retrieving the body and sending it to Coimbatore Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Muralidaran is survived by his wife, a school-going son, and a college-going daughter. The local police have registered a case and are conducting further investigations into the incident.
This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by snake catchers and the importance of extreme caution when dealing with venomous reptiles.