Snakes in noon meal centre give children a scare

CHENNAI, FEB 24: It was just another day for the 40-odd children who went to the noon-meal centre of BBR Nagar in the suburbs of Chennai....

CHENNAI, FEB 24: It was just another day for the 40-odd children who went to the noon-meal centre of BBR Nagar in the suburbs of Chennai. But, as soon as they entered the room at 11 am on Tuesday, they ran out screaming at the top of their voices at the sight of two snakes in the corner of the room.

Sources told The Indian Express that two snakes, one a cobra and the other a rattle snake Saraipanpu, were spotted in the room where rice is stored. The children, who are within the age group of four to nine, come to the noon-meal centre every day to have their food.

A worker at the noon-meal centre immediately brought a snake charmer from nearby Chitlapakkam. The area falls under the Pallavaram Municipality and when the authorities were informed, they were told to contact the Vandaloor Zoo. However, Vandaloor Zoo authorities told the centre to take help from the Guindy Snake Park.

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In the meantime, the snake charmer had caught the rattle snake, but the cobra escaped. The rattle snake was put in a gunny bag and kept until the Guindy Snake Park authorities arrived at 7.30 pm.

According to a Pallavaram resident, the snake charmer has said that there there could be more snakes in the vicinity and a thorough check has to be undertaken. Until then, the noon-meal centre may be kept closed.