More than 1,000 snake bite cases, 14 deaths in 17 months in Maharashtra’s Raigad
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Alibag: More than 1, 000 cases of snake bite were reported in Maharashtra's Raigad district in the last 17 months causing the death of at least 14 persons, an official from the civil hospital here said on Monday.
A total of 1,118 cases of snake bite were reported in the district from January 1, 2022, to June 3 this year, and 14 persons have died in these incidents, he said.
The people getting bitten consult quacks or use traditional remedies, the official said.
In the wake of rising incidents of snake bites, the hospital authorities have appealed to people to go for immediate medical intervention at the nearest hospital instead of such remedies.
Most of the cases were reported in Alibag, Panvel, Khalapur, Mahad and Mangaon talukas, the official said, adding that there are 14 locations in the district where treatment for snake bites is available.
Lack of lights, improper garbage management and awareness to deal with situations are the reasons experts blame for the increase in the number of snake bite incidents.
“We need to create awareness about how the incidents happen and how to tackle them. There is a need to avoid open defecation, sleeping on the floor,” said Sunil Limaye, chief conservator of forest, Thane forest range.
“We also need to provide specialised training to all medical doctors, be it at primary medical centres, clinics and hospitals, regarding urgent steps to be taken”, he added.
