According to Malay daily Sinar Harian, the incident occurred at SK Chembong about 9.40am yesterday, when the eight-year-old girl was playing in the school field.

The report quoted Negeri Sembilan Education Department director Rusni Ab Jalil as saying the girl suddenly collapsed while running. Her friends claimed to have seen a black snake near the victim.

“However, the teacher who came to her aid did not see the snake and enquired if the victim was in pain.

“The student said she did not feel any pain, but the teacher took her to the Rembau clinic for treatment anyway,” Rusni said.

The teacher informed the girl’s family on the way to the clinic, and told the doctors there that the victim could possibly have been bitten by a snake.

“The victim was rushed by ambulance to the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban. The hospital confirmed that there was a wound that resembled a snake bite beneath the girl’s right knee.”

The girl is reportedly in a stable condition in Seremban Hospital.

This is the second snake bite case involving students at school this week.

On Tuesday, seven-year-old Nuri Nadirah Ruslan from SK Datuk Hashim 1, in Pengkalan Chepa Kelantan, died after being bitten by a snake.

One theory is that snakes are leaving their natural habitats in search of “cooler” shelters because of the scorching hot weather the country is currently facing.