Keonjhar: With snakebite toll shooting up in the mineral-rich Keonjhar, the district administration has drawn an action plan to bring down snakebite fatalities, especially in forest-side villages.

The special relief commissioner has identified Keonjhar as a major snakebite-affected area of the state.

The district stands next only to Balasore in terms of annual deaths due to snakebite.

Delayed hospitalisation, coupled with black magic healing practices often result in deaths of snakebite victims.

A total of 145 snakebite deaths were reported in various government-run hospitals in Keonjhar district from 2015-16 to 2017-18. The coastal Balasore and Ganjam districts topped the casualty list with 164 and 147, respectively.

Twenty-three people lost their lives to snakebites from April 1 to June 30 this year.

The rate of snakebite fatalities has gone up considerably in recent months. Consequently, the administration has launched a drive to sensitise the people to arrest the toll, said project director of the District Rural Development Agency.

There are instances of people going for treatment by traditional healers. The occult practice is widely prevalent in this mineral-rich district. Witch doctors don the mantle of medical practitioners to heal snakebite victims. It proves counter-productive with victims dying due to lack of timely administration of anti-venom vaccines.

Snake bite death mostly occurs due to the delayed admission to hospitals.

The health and family welfare, forest and environment, panchayati raj and drinking water, women and child development and mission shakti, agriculture and farmers empowerment department have been directed to launch awareness campaign to sensitise people and educate them on the ways and means to save snakebite victims.

The administration is preparing publicity materials on the do's and don'ts on snakebites for wide circulation as part of awareness programme.

The health department officials have been directed to ensure that all snakebite victims must be brought to nearest health institution at the earliest for medical examination and administering anti-snake venom to save their lives.