Bijnor: 3 Die After Snakebites; Delayed Medical Care Blamed

In Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district, three recent snakebite fatalities have been attributed to a dangerous delay in seeking proper medical care. In Mandawar, a 60-year-old woman was bitten by a cobra on Sunday morning. Her family initially opted for treatment from a faith healer before bringing her to the district hospital, where she succumbed to the venom.

Similarly, a 19-year-old man was bitten while working in a sugarcane field on Saturday. He was first taken to a faith healer near Najibabad, and subsequent hospital transfers proved futile, as doctors declared him dead. A third victim, a 30-year-old woman bitten on August 5, also underwent hours of rituals with local faith healers before being pronounced dead at a community health center.

Conversely, 32-year-old farmer Anudeep Singh survived a snakebite on August 4. He was promptly taken to medical facilities, receiving extensive anti-snake venom treatment at Bijnor district hospital and later at a medical college in Meerut. This direct medical intervention proved life-saving.

Officials stress that anti-snake venom administered in hospitals is the sole effective treatment for snakebites. They urge immediate hospital visits for any such incidents. Snake activity is known to escalate during the monsoon season in Bijnor, a region with a significant population of venomous snake species.