INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
At Chalakudy in Kerala's Thrissur, a man was stunned to see a new occupant in his house: a crocodileThiruvananthapuram: People returning to
flood-battered homes in Kerala from relief camps have found them being invaded by snakes, other reptiles and insects.At Chalakudy in
Kerala's Thrissur district, a man who returned on Monday night to check the condition of his house was stunned to see a new occupant- a
crocodile.Taken aback, he quickly caught the crocodile with the help of his neighbours and bound it with ropes.Thrissur is one of the most
affected districts, with the others being Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Malappuram and Wayanad, in the worst
flooding that the state has seen in nearly a century.The disaster has killed nearly 400, left over a million people homeless and caused
unprecedented destruction to both private and public property.Mustafa, a snake catcher, is a busy man in Malappuram
Since the waters began to recede in the past two days, he has caught over 100 snakes from homes."It's quite natural that when floods come,
snakes come with it and so do other insects from overflowing ponds and rivers
People who return to clean up their homes should be careful and not put their hands into shoes, under cracked tiles or in wet firewood," he
said.A hospital in Angamaly in Ernakuam district is treating 52 persons for snakebites.Reports from Pathanamthitta said that several people
who came to clean their homes fled after seeing the snakes.The Kerala government has announced the provision of adequate anti-venom drugs at
all the affected places.(Kerala has to rebuild itself after the worst floods in over a century
Hundreds have died and lakhs are homeless
Here is how you can help.)
