Mathura: An unusual incident unfolded at a district hospital on Tuesday when an e-rickshaw driver arrived for treatment with a 1.5-foot-long snake concealed in his jacket pocket, officials said.
The man, identified as Deepak (39), a local resident, was reportedly bitten by the snake on Monday and reached the hospital seeking an anti-venom injection. A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows Deepak pulling the reptile out of his pocket when questioned by hospital staff about the snake bite, before placing it back inside his jacket.
In the video, the patient claimed that he had been waiting for treatment for nearly 30 minutes and alleged that adequate medical facilities were not available at the hospital. The presence of the snake inside the hospital premises caused concern among staff and other patients.
Chief Medical Superintendent Neeraj Agrawal said the patient was immediately instructed to take the reptile outside, as it posed a serious risk to others in the hospital. “Keeping a snake inside the hospital endangered the lives of patients and staff,” he said.
Following the incident, the police were informed and later rescued the snake. However, hospital authorities suspect that the reptile may have belonged to the patient himself, the CMS added.
The incident has raised questions about hospital safety protocols and the unusual circumstances under which patients sometimes seek medical attention.