The recent floods in the Brahmani and the Kharasrota rivers have affected the life of riverside villagers in Pattamundai, Aul, Rajnagar and Rajkanika blocks. To add to their woes, now a scare of viper bite has made the river side villagers spend sleepless night.
According Nirmal Chandra Jena, a resident of Singhagaon, the villagers are now scared of snakes at night with snakes of all sizes moving around the villages due to water submergence in farm land.
“In last three days, we have bitten to death more than four vipers. During night hour, the poisonous snakes are generally entering several houses,” said Puspita Jena, a housewife.
The Santasahi-Gandakhia road, Chhoti-Kandarpur road, Gulnagar-Indupur road and Ichhapur-Angulai road are now infested with snakes and the locals are not finding it safe to walk after nightfall, said Chiraranjan Jena, a resident of Mugabadi.
The Health Department has sounded an alarm for the villagers to remain vigilant about snakes. The CDMO has been asked to stock adequate anti-venom injections.