Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Snakebite Student Leaves Hospital as Mother Seeks School Safety Assurance
Seven-year-old Dripta Pal was bitten by a snake at his school on Monday morning.
He was taken to SSKM Hospital and received medicine called anti-venom.
He stayed in the paediatric ICU before going home on Wednesday evening.
His hand still hurts, and doctors want to check his kidney function.
His mother wants the school to promise in writing that it will clean the school regularly.
Forest officials checked the school for snakes, but did not find any.
The civic body also cleaned the school premises.
School authorities asked parents to send their children back without fear.
Seven-year-old Class I student Dripta Pal was discharged from hospital on Wednesday evening after being bitten by a snake at school.
Pal still has pain in his left hand and must undergo kidney-function tests before a check-up on Monday.
He received anti-venom and was treated in the paediatric ICU at SSKM Hospital.
Mitra Institution’s day section will reopen Thursday, while the morning section will reopen Monday.
Pal’s mother wants written assurance that the school will clean and sanitise its premises twice monthly.
- Who
- Dripta Pal, a seven-year-old Class I student, was bitten; his mother, Dipti Dutta, is seeking assurances from the school.
- What
- Pal was bitten by a snake on school premises, treated in hospital, and discharged; his mother is requesting regular sanitation assurances.
- When
- The bite occurred around 8:45 a.m. on Monday, and Pal was discharged Wednesday evening. The day section reopens Thursday and the morning section Monday.
- Where
- The incident occurred at Mitra Institution, and Pal was treated at SSKM Hospital.
- Why
- Dutta wants measures to prevent another snakebite and to assure students’ safety.
Parent’s Safety Demand
Authorities’ Reassurance
Future cleaning and safety
Parent’s Safety Demand
Dipti Dutta wants a written commitment that the school premises will be cleaned and sanitised twice a month, rather than only after the incident.
Authorities’ Reassurance
The school said it had sanitised the premises, while the civic body cleaned the site and authorities appealed to parents not to worry about safety.
Return to school
Parent’s Safety Demand
Dutta said she wants assurance that children will remain safe before accepting that the situation has been adequately addressed.
Authorities’ Reassurance
The school’s day section is scheduled to resume Thursday, and the morning section is scheduled to reopen Monday.
- Student
- Dripta Pal, 7, a Class I student
- Incident
- Snakebite on school premises at about 8:45 a.m. Monday
- Treatment
- Anti-venom followed by care in the paediatric ICU
- Discharge
- Released from hospital Wednesday evening
- Follow-up
- Further kidney-function tests and a check-up on Monday
- Requested measure
- Written assurance of school cleaning and sanitisation twice monthly
- Inspections
- Forest officials inspected the premises on two consecutive days and found no snakes