Belief in black magic is a cause of rise in death in snakebite cases in the tribal dominated Sundargarh district.
As the district is covered with dense forests, various types of poisonous snakes are found in the different parts of the district. Similarly, most of the people of the district are dependable in forest products and many have their hamlets near or inside jungle area. So, it is but natural that there would be frequent cases of snake bite.However, due to lack of education and unavailability of adequate medical facilities in their surroundings they are forced to depend on black magic to recover from snake bite and finally lose lives. A bright example is an incident that occurred on October 24 in Kalunga area under Brahmani Taranga police limits.
On the fatal night Chhoki Kissan of Junahabahal village was bitten by a snake while he was sleeping. Instead of taking him to hospital, his family members preferred to undertake treatment through black magic. When his health condition deteriorated, he was shifted to the Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) where he succumbed.
According to RGH sources in last five years, 353 persons have died due to snake bite. While in the current year 52 have already died, it was 90 in 2019, 91 in 2018, 67 in 2017 and 53 in 2016. Besides, many more deaths could have occurred which went unrecorded.The sources informed that in Sundargarh district around 80 varieties of snakes are found out of which 17 are poisonous. It is said that the death figures in snake bite is much more than that of deaths innatural calamities. Even it is more than that of death in lightning and drowning.Experts say the ratio of snake bite is more between May and October.
According to them as the hot is high in the district, the snakes prefer to roam out side during summer. Similarly, in rain days, water enters to their holes forcing them to come out and roam. So, during these days the cases of snake bite are more.
If adequate medical services with ambulance facilities are not provided and a rapid awareness programme is not undertaken throughout the district, basically in rural pocket, the death rate in snake bite can jump further, say the experts
