Spider Attack

[Simon Peter]

Swarms of never-before-seen spiders descended upon a cultural festival in the northeastern Indian town of Sadiya last month, biting several people and leaving two dead. The arachnid “invasion,” as the Times of India called it, caused a panic among festival-goers who reportedly jostled one another and tripped over benches in an effort to escape the venomous spiders.

Scientists from Dibrugarh University and Gauhati University have not been able to identify the spiders, which resemble tarantulas but may be a new species altogether. Ratul Rajkhowa, a professor of zoology at Cotton College in the city of Guwahati, told the Times that the spiders could be black wishbones, a species native to Southern Australia. If that’s the case, the spiders’ venom would not be deadly but could, in some individuals, cause severe allergic reactions that may result in death. The individuals who died after being bitten by the mysterious spiders were reportedly cremated before autopsies could be performed, and scientists have yet to test the toxicity of the spiders’ venom.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/06/04/myst...dian-town/

[bbqboy]

you forgot to say how this was Obama's fault.

[PonderThis]

Nice graphic though.

[Crazylace]

It's amazing how these things always happen in India.

[tvguy]

It's amazing how these things always happen in India.

Well if it's gotta happen anyway India is a good place. Well from where I sit anyway

[PonderThis]

I'm always happy to see things happen to White City and the Table Rock Rd. areas, myself.

[Clone]

Spider swarm attack in India questioned by experts

Rest easy arachnophobes, a recently reported attack by a swarm of tarantula-like spiders is probably no more reputable than the 1977 William Shatner clunker, "Kingdom of the Spiders."

The Times of India reported over the weekend that a swarm of aggressive spiders attacked dozens of people in the remote Indian town of Sadiya, killing two residents. One resident, Jintu Gogoi, told The Times that his finger was "black and swollen" after being bit by one of the spiders.

The alleged attack, which was said to have occurred during a local festival, has been reported by a number of national news organizations, leading to speculation about whether a "new" species of spider could be responsible for the bites.

However, CNN reports that spider experts are placing doubt on the claims made by the paper.

"The evidence that we gathered does not support the claim that they died after being bitten by spiders," said LR Saikia, who led a team of researchers from Dibrugarh University, to investigate the town's claims. Saikia said that one of the victims might have actually died from snakebite, while the other alleged victim, a teenage boy, might not have been bitten at all.

The original report in The Times certainly seems questionable, with vivid descriptions that read straight out of a low-budget horror movie:

"The festive mood soon turned into one of panic with people bumping into each other and tripping over empty benches in their frantic bid to egress," the article reads.

Saikia said that a dozen people have recently visited local hospitals complaining of spider bites but that only two of the complaints have been confirmed.

"Only two of them were confirmed bitten by spiders. But they were ordinary spiders," Saikia said.


About 20 spiders were captured and given to Saikia and his team. Local tarantulas are not believed to have venom lethal to humans but the researchers are still performing tests on about five of the spiders. Nonetheless, Saikia said there's no evidence to support the "spider swarm" claims.

"This is just a story," he said, "based on rumors."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/all...34959.html

[PonderThis]

Spoil sport.

[Crazylace]

I like spiders. I admire their work.

[tvguy]

I'm always happy to see things happen to White City and the Table Rock Rd. areas, myself.

Well India is VERY overpopulated and has a LOT of VERY poor people. That's why I said that.
But If I wanted to think along your lines I would hope the spiders would bite arrogant pricks who think they are better than everyone else and who would have the balls to even step on one anyway

[PonderThis]

Well, White City is VERY overpopulated and has a LOT of VERY poor people...

[tvguy]

Well, White City is VERY overpopulated and has a LOT of VERY poor people...

Wrong on both counts. White city has plenty of room for more people and what you call poor are kings and queens compared to many many people in India.