1 week ago
Snake Bite Shuts Heritage School Campus for Safety Inspection
A young girl was bitten by a snake in her school washroom.
She did not tell anyone at school because she was scared.
After she reached home, her mother noticed the bite marks and took her to a hospital.
Doctors watched her carefully and said she showed no signs of dangerous snake venom.
They believed the snake was probably not poisonous.
The school closed so forest officials could inspect the campus.
Officials found a harmless rat snake, but they could not confirm that it had bitten the girl.
The girl’s mother wants teachers to learn how to help children during accidents and emergencies.
A Class III girl was bitten by a snake in the school washroom on Tuesday afternoon.
Doctors said her symptoms and blood tests indicated the snake was likely non-venomous.
The school closed on Wednesday, and a forest department team found a rat snake on campus.
The principal said the school would remain closed Thursday during a thorough safety inspection.
The girl’s mother said her daughter and classmates were traumatised and called for better staff training.
- Who
- A Class III girl, her mother, school officials, doctors, and forest department officials were involved.
- What
- The girl was bitten by a snake in a school washroom, prompting the campus to close for inspection.
- Where
- The incident occurred in a washroom at The Heritage School; the girl was treated at Fortis Hospital in Anandapur.
- When
- The bite occurred Tuesday at about 1 p.m.; the school was closed Wednesday and was also scheduled to remain closed Thursday.
- Why
- The school closed to allow a forest department inspection and to ensure the campus was safe.
Family and Safety Concerns
School and Ecological Context
Response to the incident
Family and Safety Concerns
The girl’s mother said her daughter was afraid to tell her teacher and questioned whether teachers were sufficiently trained to handle children in distress.
School and Ecological Context
The school closed the campus for inspection, and the principal said it would reopen only after officials were certain the premises were safe.
Identifying the snake
Family and Safety Concerns
The family faced the immediate uncertainty of not knowing which snake had bitten the girl.
School and Ecological Context
Forest officials found a non-venomous rat snake but said this did not prove it was the snake involved in the bite.
Managing snakes on campus
Family and Safety Concerns
The mother said the incident traumatised her daughter and her classmates, who reportedly avoided the washroom afterward.
School and Ecological Context
A herpetologist said rat snakes help control pests and recommended working with qualified experts on awareness programmes rather than treating the species solely as a threat.
Key facts
- Student
- A Class III girl was bitten on her right leg.
- Approximate bite time
- Around 1 p.m. Tuesday.
- Medical condition
- She had no symptoms of envenomation and was discharged Wednesday.
- Snake found
- Forest officials found a rat snake on the school premises.
- School closure
- The campus was closed Wednesday and was to remain closed Thursday.
- Inspection
- A forest department team conducted a safety inspection of the campus.
- Expert advice
- A herpetologist recommended snake-response sensitisation programmes for students and teachers.
Quotes
Mother of the bitten girl
Concerned parent of the bitten child
“"None of them have reportedly gone to the washroom after the incident."”
telegraphindia.com
Forest department official
Official from the forest department
“"This does not mean the girl was bitten by the same snake."”
telegraphindia.com
Principal Seema Sapru
Head of The Heritage School
“"We will reopen once we are certain that the campus is absolutely safe."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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