Oddity: Jumping snake breaks NISTE photocopier

ISLAMABAD:

An alleged jumping snake apparently committed suicide-by-photocopier, ‘forcing’ the National Institute of Science and Technology Education (NISTE) to request a new machine.

While discussing documents recently reviewed about the purchase of a new colour photocopy machine, a few NISTE employees struggled to hold back laughter while showing the story narrated in the documents, which date back to January 2014.

“One morning as we entered the office, we were surprised to see a huge snake entering through the main gallery to other offices,” the letter read. It further added that they followed the snake and all of a sudden, it entered one of the offices and jumped into the photocopy machine.

“As a result the machine got damaged and we urgently need Rs18,000 for its repair and maintenance.”

The requisition was signed off by the NISTE administration director without any fuss. The amount was approved and a new machine has since been installed. A source quipped that the new machine is also not certified as ‘snake-proof’.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2014.