Alert note helps rescue snake from scooter

A handwritten note warning about a snake inside a scooter helped firefighters rescue the reptile from the Tiruchirappalli court premises on Tuesday, triggering tense moments for nearly six hours.
Ganapathy, a lawyer from Thennur, had parked his scooter in front of the Judicial Magistrate Court complex around 9.30 a.m. and went inside to attend to his cases.
Around 11.30 a.m., his junior rushed in with a slip of paper found on the scooter seat.
The note read, “There is a snake inside this vehicle,” and mentioned the vehicle registration number along with the date and time.
A small stone had been placed over the slip to prevent it from being blown away. Shocked, Ganapathy immediately alerted the Fire and Rescue Services personnel.
Firefighters rushed to the spot and conducted an initial inspection but could not find the snake.
At the lawyer’s insistence, they dismantled parts of the scooter and carried out a thorough search. A small snake was eventually found hiding behind the indicator assembly.
The firefighters carefully caught the reptile, secured it in a bag and removed it from the premises.
Sources said an unidentified person who noticed the snake entering the parked scooter had left the note to alert the owner and prevent any mishap.
The incident created a flutter in the court campus, with advocates and visitors gathering in large numbers as rescue operations continued for several hours.