News Clippings

Kathmandu Post (16th July 1998)

More People Die of Snake Bite in Nepal

Four persons have died of snake bite in the past few days in Kanchanpur district of far-western Nepal as the threat of poisonous snakes is growing there, The Kathmandu Post reported Thursday.

A 14-year-old girl and her brother died Tuesday after they were bitten by kraut, one of the most venomous snakes, the daily said, adding that they were attacked by the snake on Monday night when they were asleep.

Another two girls, aged nine and 10 respectively, also succumbed to snake bite.

Seventy-four others were admitted to hospital over the last three months and some of them were victims of poisonous snakes, the paper said.

At least 17 had died of snake bite by July 10 in Rupandehi and Dhanusha districts in western and central part of the country respectively.

Hundreds fall victim to snake bite every year across the Himalayan kingdom, especially during the monsoon season which lasts from June to September.

Ignorance and untimely treatment are blamed for a large number of deaths.