Bhubaneswar: A person succumbed to snakebite in Patadoholi village under the Puruna Cuttack police limits in Boudh district on Wednesday, due to alleged medical negligence. Instead of being rushed to a hospital, the victim was taken to a traditional healer, resulting in his death.
The deceased has been identified as Hemananda Pradhan of Patadoholi village.
According to sources, Hemananda was bitten by a poisonous snake when he was asleep last night. The snake was caught by the villagers and kept in a pot. Hemant was rushed to the Boudh District Headquarters Hospital. As his condition deteriorated, the doctor referred him to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Burla.
However, instead of taking him to VIMSAR, the family members brought him back home and called a local healer (gunia) to heal him. Despite the healer’s efforts, Hemant died.
The family had more faith in the healer’s rituals than in medical science. Even after the doctor’s referral, the family took the snakebite victim to the healer instead of the hospital, resulting in the loss of a life.
