Snakes, scorpion bites regular feature for BSF men at Creek

BSF personnel manning this marshy disputed area fight not only Pakistani infiltrators and smugglers but also snakes and scorpions. The problem of infiltration, fishermen from across the border entering Indian waters from creek areas and arms and drugs smuggling are a regular feature at the Kutch border.

"Rann of Kutch is a peculiar terrain on the face of earth without any parallel. It has different facets in different seasons, like it remains inundated from May to September. Thereafter it gradually starts drying leaving salt crust at various places," says BSF DIG Vishnu Dutt. Apart from the terrain, BSF men have to face danger from snakes and scorpions.

"There are at least one to two cases of snake bite in a month. We have to keep stock of anti-venom injections to meet such eventualities," says BSF commandant Pushpendrasinh Rathore.

According to Dutt, slush underneath the patches makes troop movement very difficult. "During March and April, strong winds raise the salty sand of Rann which restricts visibility to barely 10 yards and any movement in this season is hazardous," he says.

The BSF apprehended 15 Pakistanis including an ISI agent and seized three boats in the past three months in the hostile creek and drain areas. They also managed to thwart an infiltration bid of two boats in the Harami Nallah area.