Puducherry, Jun 17: A highly venomous snake was discovered in the VIP lounge of the airport here causing a flutter among staff members and officials. Top officials including Airport Authority of India, Chairman, Guruprasad Mohapatra had in the middle of a meeting yesterday spotted the 6-feet long reptile moving beneath a couch and immediately rushed out of the lounge, police said.

A woman staff present at the spot tried to drive out the snake using a mop.

However, a police constable managed to catch the snake that had wandered in from a nearby thicket and handed it over to forest department personnel, they said.

The reptile was identified as Viper, a species considered to be very poisonous.

The constable D Thiagou, attached to the India Reserve Battalion (IRBn) of Puducherry was presented a cash award and commendation certificate for his act of bravery.

Director General of Police S K Gautam presented the cash award and commendation certificate to the constable and appreciated his brave act.

The woman worker would be honoured for her courageous act tomorrow, airport sources said.