Snake bite death fear in Odisha

Balasore: In an unfortunate incident, a minor boy died of snakebite in Odisha’s Balasore, registering the fifth case in the last one week. The incident was reported from Ada in Simulia of Balasore district.

According to information, the boy was sleeping in his house when a snake slithered in and bit him. Despite immediate efforts to save the minor, he could not be saved.

With this minor child’s death, this has become the fifth such case in the past one week.

Two days ago, a woman and her niece were sleeping in their verandah in Buratala Gram Panchayat under Patrapur block in Ganjam district on Wednesday night. When they were sleeping, a snake slithered into their house and bit them. Following the sting they woke up with pain and hearing their loud cries the family members woke up. They rushed them to the hospital but unfortunately died while being taken.

In Keonjhar district, a woman and her son died of snake bite in Radhikadeipur village under Ghasipura police limits. A snake quietly entered into their house and bit its venomous poison. The incident reportedly occurred at around 1 am on Thursday.

Her husband Sunil rushed both of them to the Kesadurpala primary healthcare. Their condition deteriorated and then they were rushed to Anandapur Community health Centre (CHC). But before they could reach the CHC. Following their deaths a pall of gloom ascended on the family.

Reportedly, around 1000 people die of snake bites every year. In 2018-19, snake bites claimed the lives 1026 people. Similarly in 2019-20, this number was 929. The very next year in 2020-21 there were 1185 deaths due to snake bites and was 954 in 2021-22 and in 2022-23 it was 754. In the last 2 years from 2023-25, 859 people died.

These statistics have raised an alarm over the snake bite deaths in the state. Even the number of people bitten by snakes have seen a similar trend.

In 2021, 2280 cases of snake bites were registered which rose to 4855 in 2022. The next year in 2023, snake bite cases were an alarming 9325.

Most cases were registered from Ganjam, Keonjhar, Balasore and Cuttack district. The reports also indicated that the delays in providing medical facilities were mostly reported from rural and remote areas.

Several Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and Community Health centres (CHCs) did not have the necessary injections and medicines for snake bite. These also lacked proper trained doctors to treat snake bites.

Due to unavailablity of timely treatment, several people are dying of snake bites.