Woman dies after snake bite near home in Sultanpur district

A 55-year-old woman died after being bitten by a snake in Sultanpur district on Wednesday evening. Shakuntala Devi, a resident of Khargipur hamlet in Alpi Tiwari's Purwa under Ramganj area, was bitten by the snake around seven in the evening while she was near a heap of cow dung cakes close to her home.

As her condition deteriorated, family members rushed her to the district hospital in Sultanpur for treatment. Despite medical efforts, Shakuntala Devi succumbed to the snakebite late at night. The incident has left the family and local community in shock, highlighting the ongoing dangers posed by venomous snakes in rural areas, particularly during evening hours when visibility is poor.

According to reports, Shakuntala had gone near a pile of cow dung cakes stored close to her house when the snake attacked her. Such incidents are not uncommon in rural parts of Uttar Pradesh, where snakes often take shelter in farm produce, firewood stacks, and cow dung heaps, especially during certain seasons. The proximity of these storage areas to living spaces increases the risk of human-snake encounters.

Following the woman's death, local police arrived at the scene and conducted the necessary formalities. The body was sent for post-mortem examination as per standard procedure. After completing the autopsy and preparing the required documentation, authorities handed over the body to the deceased's family members for the last rites.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the need for greater awareness about snakebite prevention in rural communities. Experts often advise people to exercise caution when approaching storage areas during evening and night hours, use proper lighting, and wear protective footwear to minimize the risk of such encounters.