A 12-year-old boy named Abdullah has died after being bitten by a snake while asleep in Alamdanga, Chuadanga. His family says he reached hospital late because he was first taken to a kabiraj (traditional healer). When he was finally taken to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, the doctor declared him dead.

The incident happened at about 11pm on Sunday 2 August in Chhoyghoria village of Ailhash union in the upazila. Abdullah, son of Al Amin Joardar of the village, was a class five student at the local Gholdari Government Primary School.

Relatives and local sources said Abdullah suddenly fell ill while sleeping in his room at night. Though no one could tell in the dark what had happened, he soon showed symptoms like poisoning. He was first taken to a kabiraj named Arjun in Jimnagar Para, who examined him and said there were no signs of a snakebite.

As the boy's condition deteriorated rapidly, he was taken to another kabiraj. When there was still no improvement, family members took him to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, where the doctor on duty examined him and said he had already died.

Abdul Hanif, a member of Ailhash union, said, "The child was bitten by a snake while asleep. He was first taken to a kabiraj. When his condition worsened he was taken to the Sadar Hospital, where the doctor declared him dead."

Bani Israil, officer-in-charge (OC) of Alamdanga police station, said, "The police are aware that a child died of a snakebite. No unnatural death case has been filed over the incident yet."

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