Snakebite claims 40 lives

Pathalgaon, Chhattisgarh, July 11 (UNI) At least 40 people have died due to snakebite so far this season in remote areas of tribal-dominated Jashpur district in Chhattisgarh, official sources said.

A cluster of several villages in Tapkara and Pharsabahar blocks is known as 'Naglok' due to high incidence of snake-bite every year claiming few hundred lives. Most poisonous reptile Karait is found in large numbers in the area.

According to the district's Chief Medical and Health Officer T R Rathore, the habit of villagers to sleep on the floor added to the high incidence of snake-bite during the rainy season.

Primary Health Centres at Kukargaon, Bagbahar, Bhelwa and Kastura located in the 'Naglok' area have no doctors which led to the villagers to approach local mendicants even for treatment of snake-bites but with no cure, Dr Rathore said. Even the proposed snake-park in the area did not take off.

NGO activist Ajay Sharma, who is engaged in educating the tribals on snake-bites, said the fatal incidents could not be reduced unless there is 100 per cent electrification.

UNI XC-SP PDS RAI0405