A young man named Sohag Ali, 22, has died of a snakebite in Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga. When he was brought to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital at around 10pm on Friday (22 September), the doctor on duty in the emergency department declared him dead.

Sohag Ali was the son of Shamser Ali of Phulbari village in Kurulgachhi union of Damurhuda upazila.

Those who brought him to hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, said several of them were going from their village to Chakulia when a venomous snake bit Sohag on the left leg. He was taken to the house of an ojha (traditional healer) near the India border beside Phulbari. After the ojha's incantations his condition worsened and the ojha advised taking him to hospital. Sohag died before reaching the Sadar Hospital. They did not give the ojha's name.

Dr Al Imran Jewel, the doctor on duty in the emergency department of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, said several people brought Sohag in dead at night. They said he had been taken to an ojha after the snakebite. "We found signs of a snakebite on his left leg. He died before reaching the hospital," he said.

Biplob Kumar Saha, officer-in-charge (inspector) of Darshana police station, said he had learnt that a person had died of a snakebite, and police had gone to the scene to find out more.

Reported by Husain Malik.

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