A night of monsoon rain turned fatal for one family in Madhya Pradesh's Katni district, where a venomous snake entered a home and bit a grandfather and his toddler granddaughter as they slept, killing both before sunrise.
Snake strikes as grandfather and granddaughter slept
Ashok Chaudhary, a resident of Godana village in the Reethi area, was sleeping in the same room as his two and a half year old granddaughter Janki Chaudhary when the snake got in. Around 3 am, the household was jolted awake by their screams and rushed to the room. When they switched on the light, they saw a venomous snake slipping out through the courtyard and disappearing into nearby bushes, by which time both Ashok and Janki had already been bitten and were writhing in pain.
Rushed to hospital, referred further, but both died during treatment
Family members lost no time in carrying the pair to the Reethi community health centre, where doctors began emergency treatment. As their condition worsened, both were referred to the district hospital in Katni. There, little Janki died first, and a short while later her grandfather Ashok Chaudhary also succumbed. The family lost two of its members in a single night to the same snakebite.
Relative describes the panic that followed the bite
Prahlad Chaudhary, a relative of the deceased, said the entire household was thrown into panic the moment the snake bit them. He said every possible effort was made to save the two, but both died during treatment at the hospital, first the child and then her grandfather. The loss of two generations in one stroke has left the family devastated.
Why snakebite cases spike during the monsoon
Heavy rain floods snake burrows, forcing the reptiles to look for dry shelter, which often means they end up inside homes, a pattern that pushes up snakebite cases through the monsoon months. Experts advise extra caution while sleeping at night during this season, regularly clearing bushes and overgrown grass around houses, and, crucially, rushing a snakebite victim straight to the nearest hospital instead of relying on faith healing or superstition, since prompt medical treatment substantially improves the chances of survival.
Village left shaken, officials urge vigilance
The deaths of two family members in one incident have plunged Godana village into mourning, and fear has spread through the surrounding area as snakes keep turning up inside homes during the rains. The administration and the health department have appealed to residents to stay alert through the monsoon, keep their surroundings clean, and immediately inform the forest department or snake rescue experts if they spot a snake, so that no other family has to go through this kind of loss.
