Three people were bitten by snakes in separate places over the past 24 hours in Pangsha, Rajbari, and have been admitted to hospital.

Pangsha Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Ebadat Hossain confirmed the information at midday on 21 July.

The incidents took place on the evening of 20 July and the morning of 21 July in Kasbamajail and Jashai unions of the upazila. The three are being treated at Pangsha Upazila Health Complex.

The victims are farmer Aziz Mondal (65), son of the late Hatem Mondal of Suborno Khola village in Kasbamajail union; Hasina Khatun (55), wife of Shahidul Islam of Naduria village in the same union; and Asif Sheikh (18), son of Tarek Sheikh of Char Lakshmipur village in Jashai union.

Farmer Aziz Mondal said: "In the morning, while I was retting jute, a baby snake bit my right hand. I killed the snake and came to hospital. They told me it was a baby cobra."

Hasina Khatun said: "In the morning, while I was cooking rice, something like an ant bit my foot. I looked down and saw a snake. I screamed, everyone in the house came, killed the snake and brought me to hospital."

She added: "A few days ago, 36 cobra egg shells and 17 baby snakes were recovered from a house next to ours. The rest of the babies were not found then. These babies have spread to different places."

Another patient, Asif Sheikh, said: "At night I was standing on a bridge next to our house when something bit my foot. I shone a light and saw a snake. I killed it and came to hospital. After the doctor's treatment I am fine now."

Dr Ebadat Hossain said the patients' wounds showed signs of venomous snakebite and they were being kept under observation. So far none had shown symptoms of poisoning, so antivenom had not been given. They were being treated according to their condition.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.