Snakebite Death in Parbatta: Family Waits for Tantriks to Revive Son
Superstition has once again cost a young life in Bihar's Khagaria district. A 10-year-old boy died after a snakebite in the Sharma Tola area of Parbatta police station limits, and his family kept his body at home for over 20 hours in the hope that he would come back to life.
The deceased, Siddharth Kumar, was the son of mason Bambam Kumar. The case has deeply disturbed residents of the region.
A Delay That Cost a Life
The boy was bitten by a venomous snake around 4:30 pm on Wednesday while playing near the Bhagwati temple in the village. Instead of getting him medical help without delay, the family became occupied with exorcism and neer-bhasma, a traditional remedy. As his condition grew worse, they were forced to take him to the Community Health Centre in Parbatta.
What the Doctor Said
Dr. Vinay Kumar, the attending doctor, said that the child was brought to the centre around 6:30 pm. After checking him, the doctor declared him dead. He emphasised that anti-venom for snakebite was fully stocked at the facility and that timely arrival could have saved the boy's life.
Refusing to Accept Death
The family did not accept the doctors' verdict. They took the body to the Bhagwati temple in Rahimpur, where exorcism went on through the night. They then returned home and waited for tantriks from Kolkata and Katihar. Family members kept receiving instructions over the phone from these practitioners. They also flatly refused to allow either the last rites or a postmortem.
Police and Community Persuasion
When news of the situation spread, Parbatta SHO Pramod Kumar, student leader Sushil, Prashant Suman and disaster volunteer Rishi Kumar rushed to the spot. Following repeated appeals by police and local respected citizens, the family was persuaded to consider a scientific approach.
Around 3 pm on Thursday, the body was taken for a postmortem examination. Police then took custody of the body and sent it to Khagaria Sadar Hospital.
Health experts continue to urge families to seek immediate medical care in snakebite emergencies rather than relying on unproven rituals.