Date:19/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/19/stories/2007081961170100.htm

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Snakes at airport leave staff in jitters

M. Srinivas

Photo: Mohd Yousuf

Creepy feeling: A plane on the Begumpet airport runway.

HYDERABAD: After birds, it is now the turn of snakes that are giving sleepless nights to airport staff.

Slimy reptiles slithering onto the tarmac are making airport employees’ scamper for safety. Two weeks ago, flight loaders and cabin cleaning crew fled the tarmac after they noticed a snake slithering near two private airline aircraft. The panic-stricken crew had to wait till the snake found its way into the bushes.

“We were scared. It could not find the way due to high-beam lights and straightaway came onto the tarmac,” said a cabin cleaner who did not wish to be identified.

He said it would have led to utter chaos if the incident occurred minutes before, when the passengers disembarked from the aircraft.On many occasions, snakes were found moving on the runway even as planes were landing from the Tadbund side. Some of them were also crushed under plane wheels while crossing the runway. A 10-feet long snake was still wandering on the airport premises, workers said.CISF personnel posted along the airport compound wall are also worried.

Runway maintenance staff say they are scared to work in open spaces on Tadbund and Annanagar sides, as there are thick bushes interspersed with snake-pits. Airport officials, however, say that bird-hit threat was more serious than the problem of snakes.

“Snakes coming onto tarmac is a rare phenomenon. But we will take necessary steps,” Airport Director R. K. Singla said.