Siblings Die After Snakebite, Family Pursued Faith Healing

In a tragic incident in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district, two young siblings, Shiva Jonko (11) and Seema Jonko (14), lost their lives after being bitten by a venomous snake while they slept. The children managed to alert their parents about the snakebite. However, the family reportedly spent approximately six hours seeking faith healing for the victims instead of rushing them to a medical facility. By the time the siblings' condition severely deteriorated around 11 am on Tuesday, neighbors intervened and transported them to Sadar Hospital in Seraikela. Tragically, Shiva died en route, and Seema passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital. Doctors confirmed both children were deceased. Civil surgeon Dr. Saryu Prasad Singh emphasized that the delay in seeking professional medical treatment significantly diminished the children's survival prospects. He noted that prompt medical intervention in the initial hours could have been life-saving. Data from the health department indicates that 33 snakebite cases were reported in the district up to August 18, 2026, with three recorded fatalities during that period.