The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report over death due to non-availability of anti-snake venom injection at District Hospital at Balia. NHRC directed to reply on the issue within two weeks.
One Azad, aged 30 years, was bitten by a poisonous snake and died on July 1, earlier this month. He was a resident of Village Manikpur under the Fepana Police Station. The doctors informed the relatives of the youth that anti-snake venom injection was neither available in the District Hospital nor in the entire district. Reportedly, many people had died in the district due to non-availability of anti-snake venom injection.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the residents of the district. Accordingly, a notice has been issued to the Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh and District Magistrate, Balia calling for a factual report within two weeks. The media report was forwarded by a human rights activist on behalf of an NGO, Jai Hind Anti-Corruption Society.