‘Tarantulas’ Invade Assam Town, 2 People Dead

[driveway]

Well, I did a google search for two of the names listed in the article: Dr. LR Saika, who is apparently the Head of the Department of Life Sciences at Dibrugarh University as quoted, although his specialty is plants: http://dibru.ac.in/staffdetails.php?...%20R.%20Saikia

The other, Dr. Anil Phatowali is pretty much only associated with this story, which has been blasted to multiple places around the internet in essentially the same form. However, I was able to find this article:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/106082...ry_6666276.asp

which makes reference to a Dr. Anil Kumar Phatowali as being the senior medical officer at the Kakopathar Public Health Centre which is not the centre he's listed as being the superintendant of from the previous article, but is in the same region of India, so, if it is a made-up article, someone did their research.

[trackercowe]

Dissentowner does make a good point though, even if this happened in a far away place like India there should be more media coverage than this is currently getting. Animal attacks often take precedence over other worldly stories.

How often do you read about people getting killed by lions, sharks. or crocodiles? Pretty much after every attack unless it happens in some third world nation. And those attacks happen more often, when compared to people getting killed by spiders, which is quite rare. Especially if this story is true that spiders "took over a town" and led to the deaths of two people.

The fact that this has not been covered by CNN, BBC, or any other true global news network does lend credence that this may either be more of a fictitious story, or at least in part false.

Until a more official network picks up on this story I hesitate to believe it in its entirety.

Edit: I guess it was picked up by CNN, but they do claim a lot of the story to be likely based on rumors.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/04/world/...arm/index.html

[Hack&Lube]

The Times of India is India's largest newspaper but the journalism and editorial out of India, especially rural India or regions away from the the central hubs like Mumbai, New Delhi, etc. is always going to be circumspect or often sensationalist. That probably accounts for the bickering in this thread on whether or not this is a reliable story or not.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by Yasa

I wouldn't consider this to be that much of a leap, considering peanuts can kill us.

So you're saying these are the most deadly spiders on the planet?

[Knut]

I just can't beleive someone would DEFEND spiders ! They likely killed way more in the town and are now paying off journalists to cover up the story. In fact I bet Dissentowner is on take.

[Fire Element]

Dis,

As an Entomologist, your defending of the spiders tickles me "Starburst Baboon Pink". You are my new favorite poster. Bravo sir.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Hesla

I just can't beleive someone would DEFEND spiders ! They likely killed way more in the town and are now paying off journalists to cover up the story. In fact I bet Dissentowner is on take.

Maybe he IS a spider and is trying to infiltrate our ranks...

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Maybe he IS a spider and is trying to infiltrate our ranks...

A Spyder if you will.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Maybe he IS a spider and is trying to infiltrate our ranks...

You found me out. I was planning on turning you all into drained husks. Guess I will have to travel to Vancouver instead...pity.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You found me out. I was planning on turning you all into drained husks. Guess I will have to travel to Vancouver instead...pity.

Be flexible with your travel plans, in some spots in downtown you'll be too late.

[jammies]

Big Spider has been suppressing the truth! We, the 99%, see through their octopedal flummery, and will take this oppression no more!