Odisha: Superstition pushes snakebite victim to brink of death, OHRC takes suo motu cognizance (VIDEO)

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Friday took cognizance of reports of superstitious act in the treatment of snake bite case by a temple priest.

It is very shocking that in the 21st century when science has advanced a lot, people are still practising such kinds of superstitious act in the treatment of snake bite cases, the commission remarked.

Describing such an act as a very unfortunate affair, the Commission issued notice to PCCF (Wildlife) and CWLW, Odisha, Collector Khordha and DFO Khordha and asked them to submit their replies on September 27, on the next date of hearing indicating measures taken/to be taken for creating awareness among the people to prevent such type of incidents.

As per the reports one Lipu Nayak of Baniatangi village in Khordha was beaten by a snake when he was working in his field on July 17 last. The family members of Lipu took him to Nilakantheswar temple in the village where the priest poured water on him in a bid to cure him from the snake bite.

When the condition of Lipu worsened, he was shifted to capital hospital Bhubaneswar where the doctor administered him with anti-snake venom injection and saved his life. (UNI)