Bhubaneswar: Snake bites have led to more than 1,700 deaths in Odisha in the last three years, data furnished by the State government revealed. Interestingly, the state government has categorized snake bites as a 'state specific disaster,' but such alarming rate of fatalities has raised concerns.
According to a state government report, while 4,689 people have lost their lives due to natural disasters between 2015 and March 2018, 1,716 people have died of snake bites, which is a staggering 37 per cent.
Most cases have been reported from Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Ganjam districts.
Majority of snake bite deaths have occurred between the months of May and October, the report says.
"In the last 3 years, 1,716 people have lost their lives due to snake bites while 696 people have died during 2017-18. This is a big number. Health and Family Welfare department is planning to take steps to tackle the issue," said Deputy Relief Commissioner, Prabhat Mohapatra.
On the other hand, Odisha Health Minister, Pratap Jena said, "It is wrong to say that many people are dying due to snake bites. All medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals and sub-divisional hospitals have anti-venom injections."