Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, June 04: A Fireman Driver of Fire Services was bitten by a snake today during a snake rescue operation at BSNL quarter area, opposite of Head Post Office. The incident occurred when Fire Services received a call regarding presence of a snake in the residential area at around 5.00 pm.
As no one from the Wildlife Division came for rescue, as it happens always, fire brigade team was sent to rescue the snake.
But, today one of the Firemen, Mr. Prasad was not lucky enough and received a snake bite on his finger. Thankfully the snake was not poisonous and the Fireman was discharged from hospital after proper medication and he is presently out of danger.
Andaman Sheekha in many occasions in past had reported against deployment of Firemen for snake rescue operations, considering the fact that none of the Firemen in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are trained in catching snake.
Most Importantly the Fire Services doesn’t have anti-venom to provide immediate treatment to Firemen in case any poisonous snake bites them. It is also learnt that even G B Pant Hospital doesn’t have anti-venom to treat with all kind of snake bites.
Why can’t the Administration direct the Forest Department Staffs, who are well trained in snake catching, to attend such cases? Risking lives of untrained Firemen may yield deadly results in future, and then, only Fire Fighting from the side of Administration, will not help anyone.
