RAUTAHAT: Three minor girls of Rautahat district have succumbed to venomous cobra (Goman) bites over the past week.

According to District Hospital, Gaur, the girls were bitten by highly venomous cobras that came out, upon rainfall, from the retreat they were forced to by extreme heat.

The latest victim of cobra bite, 12-year old Tara Kumari Pandit of Garuda Municipality-1 was collecting firewood when the hooded reptile bit her. Although Pandit informed her parents, she was taken to a local shaman depriving her of immediate medical attention. Later, Pandit was pronounced dead upon arrival at the District Hospital.

“Tara Kumari was kept busy in rituals when she needed medical attention the most,” said the chief of Emergency Room, Rabindra Jha, “The venom had already paralysed her nervous system and taken its toll when she was brought here.”

Likewise, sister duo, 7-year-old Sabrin Khatun and three and a half-year-old Sabnam Khatun of Gadhimai Municipality-2 also succumbed to cobra bites four days ago.

A cobra had bitten the girls while they were asleep. The younger sister died before their parents came to know about the incident whereas the eldest lost her live on the way to hospital, victim’s kin informed.

According to Jha, 8-10 cases of snake bites on average are registered by the hospital, daily.

Majority of the victims who report to the hospital are bitten by venomous snakes. Nonetheless, the hospital has enough vaccines, Jha added.