A hospital is the last place anyone expects to run into a snake. But according to a video shared by India Today on X, that’s exactly what happened at the Jaitpur Community Health Centre in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district on Friday, when a six-foot snake was spotted near the laboratory. Patients and their attendants were already there for treatment, and the sight of the reptile quickly set off panic. A snake charmer and a young boy caught the snake and released it into a forest, but the hospital superintendent blamed clogged drains and accumulated garbage for attracting snakes, putting the centre’s sanitation under the spotlight.
A tense afternoon at the health centre
It was a Friday afternoon, and the health centre was busy with patients and attendants waiting near the laboratory. The mood changed in an instant when a snake, around six feet long, appeared nearby. People who had come for treatment suddenly found themselves scrambling to get away from it. Some ran in different directions, others held back children and elderly relatives, and the usual quiet, anxious hum of a hospital turned into chaos in a matter of seconds.
A snake charmer and a young boy step in
Help came quickly. A snake charmer and a young boy with him managed to catch the snake, which could have been dangerous had it been left alone with so many people around. They then took it away and released it into a forest, which means the reptile was removed from the premises without being harmed. For the patients and attendants who’d been frightened just minutes before, it was the end of an alarming episode, though the unease lingered.
The hospital’s explanation: clogged drains and garbage
Asked about how the snake got there, the hospital superintendent blamed clogged drains and accumulated garbage. It’s a plausible explanation, since snakes usually look for food and shelter, and piles of waste tend to attract rats, frogs and insects, which in turn draw snakes. Blocked drains stay damp and dark, giving reptiles a place to hide. What looks like a small lapse in cleanliness can quickly turn into a safety risk, particularly at a place full of vulnerable people.
Here’s the video:
Questions over sanitation and patient safety
The incident has raised concerns over sanitation at the health centre, and it’s easy to see why. A community health centre is where people go to get better, not to worry about snakes. Regular cleaning of drains, prompt removal of garbage and trimming of bushes around the premises are basic steps that can make a difference. If a snake is ever spotted, the safest thing is to keep your distance, alert staff, and call the forest department or a trained rescuer rather than trying to handle it.
Disclaimer:
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on reports of the incident. Never try to catch, kill or handle a snake yourself. If you encounter one, keep away and contact local authorities, the forest department or a trained rescuer, and in case of a snakebite, seek immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital.
