City based snake catcher Devraj alias Snake Shivappa was bitten by a cobra when he went to catch the reptile which had ventured into a house in Judicial Layout on Wednesday night.
The snake bit Shivappa, when he was trying to pack it in a bag after catching it. The owner of the house Shankar rushed him to Columbia Asia hospital where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Panic gripped the residents of the area, when they noticed the motorcycle with few bags containing snakes, belonging to Shivappa, parked in front of Shankar's house, making a hissing sound. Petrified residents, most of whom stayed awake the whole night, frantically called up the BBMP forest cell seeking help. A team of volunteers rushed to the spot and rescued the snakes.
The snakes have been taken to a rescue shelter in Kengeri for treatment and would be released into the forest area BBMP Chief Warden Sharath Babu said.
It may be recalled that Shivappa, a mason-turned-snake catcher has been working in the city rescuing snakes for the past few years. He has recently been sanctioned a monthly honorarium by the State Government and the BBMP after he held a novel protest with the snakes, demanding monetary consideration from the government for his services.
