Date:23/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/23/stories/2006082317060200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

An action-filled day at GH

A rat snake (sarai pambu)threw the hospital staff in a tizzy when someone found it in the old casualty ward

The Government General Hospital had an extraordinarily busy day on Monday with 43 accident victims registered between 7.30 a.m. and 11 p.m. There were no deaths.

Most of the patients were victims of road traffic accidents with one having survived a Salman Khan-like ordeal where a vehicle ran over him while he was sleeping.

Another man was run over by his own bullock cart when he turned around to tether the animals to a post.

About three patients were hit while crossing the road under the influence of alcohol.

And taking up the activity a notch at 8 p.m., a rat snake (sarai pambu), several feet long, threw the hospital staff in a tizzy when someone found it lounging in the old casualty ward.

Although this section is still in use, it was not occupied at the time of the discovery of the snake.

Fire department personnel successfully removed the snake, but not before it got its 15 seconds of fame from the excited local press.

Susan Muthalaly

Susan Muthalaly