Snakes have bitten three farmers on the same day in Shibchar, Madaripur. Two of them are admitted to Shibchar Upazila Health Complex and the third has been sent to Dhaka.

The three were bitten at different times on Saturday, 6 July.

According to local sources, Lokman Khan, 52, of Char Bachamara village in Dattapara union was working in a groundnut field near his home. As he picked up a sickle from under a basket left in the field, a snake bit his hand. His family immediately took him to the upazila health complex, where the emergency doctor confirmed after examination that he had been bitten by a venomous snake. The doctors decided to give him antivenom, but when they asked his relatives to sign the consent form, they declined. He was therefore referred to Dhaka in line with the family's decision.

Around noon the same day, Shahabuddin Howlader, 40, of Kharakandi village in Madbarchar union was pulling straw from a haystack at home for his cattle when a snake bit him. His family rushed him to Shibchar Upazila Health Complex.

Locals said that in the morning Moslem Kazi, 75, of Khaschar Bachamara village in Sannyasirchar union was steeping jute in the canal next to his house when a snake bit him. His son and other family members came running at his cries, and he was admitted to Shibchar Upazila Health Complex.

Dr Farzana Sultana, medical officer at Shibchar Upazila Health Complex, said three snakebite patients came to the hospital on Saturday. Examination showed that two had not been bitten by venomous snakes, so they did not need antivenom, though they are being kept under close observation. The other had been bitten by a venomous snake and was referred to Dhaka.

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