Fireman bitten by snake inside Lucknow airport

Lucknow: A fireman was in a critical condition on Monday after a snake bit him in the airport premises here, officials said, adding that frantic efforts were on to recover the reptile and additional security had been deployed for the passengers' security.

S.K. Maurya was admitted to the Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University (CSMMU) as he fell unconscious after being bitten by the snake inside the Chaudhary Charan Singh airport.

"He (Maurya) is being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the CSMMU," Airport Director Atul Dixit told reporters here.

Snake catchers, security personnel as well as forest officials launched a frantic search to find the reptile that had slithered away.

"The officials are yet to trap the snake. It's a quite difficult task because the airport is spread over a sprawling 1,200 acre area," added Dixit.

Following the incident, airport authorities deployed additional security near the waiting room for the security of the passengers.

"The species of the snake and other information about it could be given only after the reptile is caught," said Dixit.