Poisonous snake creates panic at VIP lounge of Puducherry airport

Top officials including Airport Authority of India chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra in the middle of a meeting on Saturday spotted the 6-feet long reptile moving beneath a couch and immediately rushed out of the lounge.

A highly venomous snake was discovered in the VIP lounge of the airport in Puducherry causing flutter among staff members and officials.

The reptile was identified as Viper, a species considered to be very poisonous. (Shutterstock Photo)

Top officials including Airport Authority of India chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra in the middle of a meeting on Saturday spotted the 6-feet long reptile moving beneath a couch and immediately rushed out of the lounge, police said.

A woman staff present at the spot tried to drive out the snake using a mop. Later, a police constable managed to catch the snake that had wandered in from a nearby thicket and handed it over to forest department personnel.

The reptile was identified as Viper, a species considered to be very poisonous.

The constable, D Thiagou, attached to the India Reserve Battalion (IRBn) of Puducherry was presented a cash award and commendation certificate for his act of bravery.

The woman worker would also be honoured for her courageous act on Monday, airport sources said.