Bhubaneswar: Three people succumbed to snakebites in two separate incidents in Odisha during the last 24 hours. While two brothers died after being bitten by a venomous snake in Janglikudar Sahi of Deogarh Town around 4.00 pm on Tuesday, an infant breathed his last after a snakebite in Kathuria village under Sharat police limits in Mayurbhanj district on Tuesday night. The infant’s mother Mynati Mahakud, who was also bitten by the same snake, is admitted to the Baripada Hospital in critical condition.
According to reports, Gaurang (14) and his brother Saubhagya (8) were bitten by a snake when they were sleeping on the floor of their house in Janglikudar Sahi of Deogarh Town. Both brothers were admitted to the District General Hospital and died on Tuesday morning while undergoing treatment.
In the other incident, Mynati Mahakud was sleeping at home last night holding her one-and-a-half-year-old son. Suddenly, late in the night, a poisonous snake bit both mother and son. When the family came to know about the incident they took the mother and son duo to Udla Hospital on Tuesday morning. The infant died while undergoing treatment at the hospital, the condition of the mother is said to be critical, and has been shifted to Baripada Hospital.
Earlier last Saturday night, three students of a coaching center in Nischintapur village under Baria police limits in Odisha’s Keonjhar district succumbed to snakebites. The victims include two girls aged between 10 and 11 years.
According to reports, the snake bit four students of the residential coaching center while they were asleep. When the matter came to light, the four students were rushed to the Keonjhar District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), where three were declared dead.
Incidents of snake bites have increased in various parts of Odisha with rainwater entering the snake pits forcing the reptiles to come out of their holes and seek refuge in residential areas. Every monsoon, several snakebite deaths are reported from various regions of the state. According to a survey, snakebites claim around 900 lives in Odisha every year.
Meanwhile, the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) Bhubaneswar of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has undertaken a year-long study on the incidences, mortality, morbidity, and socio-economic burdens of snakebites in Odisha. The study, which will continue till October 2023, will help decision-makers to frame policies to prevent and control snakebites.
The IMCR has undertaken another study on capacity building of medicos in snakebite diagnosis and management in Khurda (a non-tribal-dominated area) and Rayagada (a tribal-dominated area) wherein the medical officers are being trained on the techniques of managing snakebite cases.
