150 snakebite cases in Diviseema in 2 weeks

Vijayawada: As the farming community is in a grip of fear with increasing case of snakebites being reported in Diviseema mandals of Avanigadda, Koduru and Nagayalanka during this rainy season, the district administration is taking measures to check snakebites and ensure immediate medical treatment to the victims.

About 150 snakebite cases were reported during the last two weeks in Diviseema region. Sowing season reached the last phase in this kharif. Consequently, thousands of farmers are busy with sowing of seeds in their farm lands, where snakes live. Snakes are moving towards the villages and habitations as farmers are busy with sowing of seeds. So far, two persons died of snakebites in the last one week in Krishna district.  

Most snakebite victims were provided treatment at Avanigadda area hospital, PHCs and community health centres. Three types of poisonous snakes are hazardous in Andhra Pradesh. They are cobra, Russel’s viper and common krait. Most victims of the snakebite don’t know which snake is poisonous and which is non-poisonous. Farmers are the easy targets to the snakes. When they are in the agriculture fields, they are bitten by the snakes.

But, the local villagers immediately shift the snakebite victims to the nearest hospitals. Keeping in view of the recent snakebite cases reported in Diviseema region, the district administration has arranged anti-venom serum in all Primary Health Centres, community health centres and Area hospitals, said District Collector B Lakshmikantham. 

He informed the media on Sunday that only two persons died of snakebites in the district this rainy season.  He suggested to the farmers to carry at least five feet long sticks to make noise to drive away the snakes from a particular place. He said snakes are naturally afraid of noise and move to other place for safety when noise is made.

He also suggested to the farmers to wear footwear without fail when they go to farm lands. He personally visited some villages in Avanigadda and Koduru mandals and took part in campaign with the officials of agriculture, forest departments and NGOs. He said the district administration was trying to dispel myths about the snakebite and consequences.

He said Naza homeopathic medicines were supplied to all area hospitals, PHCS and community health centres to be administered to the snakebite victims. He further said Bromadioline is being sprayed to kill the rats in the agriculture farm lands.

He hoped the sowing season would end very soon and farmers would get rid of the snake menace. He said snake charmers were also roped into catch the snakes in the villages and informed that all efforts were being made to save farmers from the snakebites in the district.