At least 12 persons died in snakebite during the last one and a half months in Sundargarh district, raising a concern here. The deceased include five children, two minor children, three women and two male persons.
Social worker Santanu Kusum along with his associates met Sundargarh Additional District Magistrate Biswajit Mahapatra recently and demanded treatment facilities in all health centres in the district for snakebite.
He also demanded that necessary steps be taken to assess the death cases due to snakebite and ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to each deceased be provided soon.
According to sources, on June 1, one Ankit Khadia(5), son of Kishore Khadia, a native of Phulbari Khadiapada under Bargaon block of district, died in snakebite. Similarly, on June 9, one woman identified as Sina Munda, a resident of Bhanjapalli village under Koira block, died in snakebite and one Kartik Puran(10) of Suidih village under Lathikata block died for the same cause.
The other snakebite death cases were Bijay Majhi(11) of Udaruma Majhipada village under Kutra block (June 12); Pradeep Kujur of Naikenbahal village under Kutra block (June 22); Sukmuni Munda , a native of Karda village under Gurundia block (June 30); Angel( 9 months old), daughter of Bhuben Oram of Madhupur village under Lahunipada block (July 7); Anima Sarapatia(8), daughter of Bhabsagar Sarapatia of Singarpada village under Bargaon block (July 8); Raju Induar of Kambahal Andhari village under Lathikata block (July 12); Ajaykela (14) of Ganjutola village under Bisra (July 15); Sonali Mohanty(15) of Gopainathpur under Bonei block (July 16) and Sabita Tirkety of Mahadevpara under Balishankara block(July 16).
Meanwhile, Sundargarh ADM has directed the emergency section to take necessary steps for payment of financial assistance to the family members of the deceased.