Young man bitten by snake, died during treatment
Balrampur. A young man became a victim of snakebite on the night of 3 April in village Bonga of Ramkola police station area of Balrampur district. He slept with his 16-year-old cousin on a bed placed on the floor. During this time, a snake bit him on the thumb of his right hand. Then he informed the family about the incident. Instead of getting him treated, his family kept getting him exorcised by Baiga in the village itself, but his condition worsened. Then he hurriedly took Revati to the health center for treatment but found it closed. Then after first aid at Wadrafnagar Hospital, he was brought to the Medical College Hospital. He died during treatment here on the afternoon of April 4.
Rajkumar Pando’s father Budhram Pando, aged 22, was a resident of village Bonga of Ramkola police station area of Balrampur district. On the night of April 3, after having dinner, he slept with his cousin 16-year-old Dileshwar on a bed placed on the ground. Then late at night he felt something biting the thumb of his right hand. When he got up, he saw that there was a snake which had entered inside the wooden planks kept nearby. He informed his family about the snake bite at 5 in the morning. Instead of getting him treated, the family started getting him exorcised by the village sarpanch, who also works as a Baiga. During this period, there was a delay of one to one and a half hour in the exorcism.
When he did not get better after exorcism, his family took him by bike to Revati Health Center for treatment but it was found closed. After this he was admitted to Wadrafnagar Hospital for treatment. Seeing his condition serious, the doctors here referred him to Abikapur Medical College Hospital. He died during treatment here on the afternoon of April 4. If his family members had taken him straight to the hospital for treatment after getting information about snakebite, his life could have been saved. But the family spent more time bushwhacking. The work of exorcism was done by the Sarpanch of the village. Due to the Revati Health Center being closed, timely treatment could not be provided. The family has expressed displeasure over the closure of Revati Health Centre. Family members say that the health center often remains closed. Due to this, people are not able to get treatment facilities at night.
