Monn Desk: With rising water level in the Padma River, the appearance of Russells viper snakes has been alarming in the district.
According to field sources, fishermen and farmers are in danger of the deadly snake. In several areas, locals are killing the poisonous snakes. So far, many people have been bitten by the viper.
On June 21 at about 9:30am, one viper snake was killed at Palashi Fatepur in Bagha Upazila.
Vipers were also killed in Tanor, Godagari, and Charghat upazilas in the last few days.
When people see a Russell s Viper, then in fear they form a group and beat it to death.
Joni Ahmed of Palashi Fatepur Char in Bagha Upazila said, in the morning, when he was returning home after lifting his fishing nets from the river, he came across a Russells viper; later on, he started shouting to gather people, and they killed it with stick. Another viper was killed five days before.
Now a number of vipers have been visible in Bagha, Godagari, and Charghat upazilas.
The fear is much among people of border areas of these upazilas.
At present, 20,000 people of 3,000 families at 15 chars in Chakrajapur Union of Bagha are living in constant viper fear.
Locals said, Russells vipers are coming with new water in these chars including Charkhanpur and Charmazhardia.
Chakrajapur Union Chairman Bablu Deyan said, everyone has been asked to be careful.
Advice is being given to people for not to be panic, he added.
“If you see a Russells viper, inform it to Snake Rescue Team Bangladesh.”
This request was made by President of the rescue team Raju Ahmed on a Facebook post.
In the post he said, “While killing a snake, do not get bitten by the snake yourself. Snake Rescue Team Bangladesh will free you from danger by rescuing snakes.”
In another post, he tells about what to do if one is bitten by a viper. If someone is bitten by a Russells viper, go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible without going to Oja (spiritual healers) or snake charmer.
According to doctors, after being bitten by a cobra, the death can take place within eight hours; if bitten by Russells viper, the death can take place within 72 hours.
In most cases, it is necessary to apply anti-venom. After a snakebite, if anti-venom is injected quickly, the life of the affected person can be saved.
Dr Farhad Uddin Hasan Chowdhury who treated more than 4,000 snake-bitten patients wrote on a Facebook post: “Three main venomous snakes of Bangladesh are: Gokhra (cobra), Keute (krait) and Russells viper or Chandrabora; Russells viper is relatively most venomous; recently, the prevalence of the snake has increased; but this snake does not bite anyone by chasing; basically, if someone steps on this snake carelessly, then it bites.
If the poison of this snake enters the body, the bodys blood becomes thin, and spontaneous bleeding can occur from different parts of the body, and kidneys can be damaged, nerves can be paralysed, and the lung function can fall; and even heart attack can occur.”
The anti-venom available in Bangladesh works well against cobras and kraits; but it does not work in the case of Russells viper; this anti-venom contains ingredients against the Indian Russells viper.
Dr Farhad said, “A research team led by medical scientist of Chattogram Medical College Professor Aniruddha Ghosh has been working relentlessly to manufacture an effective anti-venom against our countrys Russells viper for the last four-five years.”
