Kolkata, 24 August (H.S.): A fresh incident of alleged snakebite has triggered panic at a prominent school in Kolkata’s Bhawanipur area. A Class 1 student of the primary section of Mitra Institution was reportedly bitten by a snake on Monday morning.

According to sources, the student, Dripta Pal, a resident of Tollygunge, was allegedly bitten at around 8:30 am during the tiffin break. Following the incident, the child was rushed to SSKM Medical College and Hospital, where he was admitted. His condition is reportedly stable.

Hospital sources said Dripta has been kept under observation in the paediatric department. It is not yet clear whether the snake was venomous. Doctors have sent blood samples for testing, and the results are expected to determine whether there are signs of venom in the child's body.

School authorities said primary students normally attend classes on the second and third floors. However, during the tiffin break, the children came down to the ground floor to play. It is suspected that Dripta was bitten on his right hand during this time. Teachers believe the snake may have climbed up his leg.

The incident is suspected to have occurred in one of the rooms numbered 13, 14 or 15 on the ground floor. School authorities are examining CCTV footage to determine what exactly happened. The snake had not been found on the school premises till Monday afternoon.

Headmistress Soma Das said that Room No. 16, located next to the suspected area, usually remains locked and would be opened and checked.

The incident comes shortly after an alleged snakebite involving a student at a private school in the Anandapur area, following which the School Education Department reportedly issued a show-cause notice to the institution.

Mitra Institution in Bhawanipur is also historically significant. Former Union minister and educationist Syama Prasad Mukherjee studied at the school. The school recently observed his 125th birth anniversary on July 6, when Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari attended the programme.

The latest incident has raised fresh questions about safety measures on school premises, while authorities continue to investigate how the alleged snakebite occurred.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey