Rupandehi, June 12 :

Compared to last year, the Lumbini zonal hospital has witnessed a threefold increase in the number of people visiting it for treatment of snakebite.

According to the record keeper of the hospital, Laxmi Raj Regmi, nine out of 28 people bitten by snakes, who were admitted to the hospital between mid-March and mid-June this year, have died. Most of the dead are children and senior citizens. The deaths due to snakebite stood at eight during the same period last year.

According to doctors, the toll due to snakebite has increased this year because the rainy season began earlier.

Most of the snake bite patients died within six hours of admission to the hospital as they were brought to the hospital too late, the medical record keeper, Regmi, said. “Those who are rushed to the hospital at the earliest have chances of recovery”, he added. The hospital administration is alert following the increase in snakebite patients adding that nine member team medical team is ready to deal with the issue, medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Kedar Nath Sharma said.

Use of mosquito nets is one way of keeping the snakes at bay. One can also keep snakes at bay by not sleeping out in the open and keeping the surrounding clean and use torch while walking at night.

Patients from Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Palpa and India visit the hospital.