Two years, 33 snakebite victims, no survivor

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 19

In Punjab, snakes account for most deaths in the man-animal encounter. Government hospitals in most parts of the state are ill-equipped to handle snakebite cases, which usually cause 100 per cent fatalities.

Information gathered by The Tribune reveals that in the past two years, 33 persons lost their lives in Punjab due to attacks by reptiles. In 2015-16, as many as 14 persons lost their lives due to snakebite, while one was left badly injured in a stray leopard attack.

In 2016-17, 19 persons were killed by snakes and 10 were injured by other wild animals, including wild boars and leopards.

Punjab has compensated the victims of snakebites with Rs 66 lakh in the past two years with the family of every deceased getting a meagre compensation of Rs 2 lakh each, that, too, after much delay. While in 2015-16, a total compensation of Rs 28.78 lakh was disbursed, in 2016-17 Rs 41.54 lakh was given to the victims of wild animal attacks.

During the same period, 72 cases of damage to crops were reported in parts of the state and 31 cases of loss to property caused by wild animals. The Wildlife Department compensated the farmers whose crops were damaged by wild animals with just Rs 1.25 lakh in the past two years, while roughly Rs 2.75 lakh were given to those whose properties were damaged in the man-animal conflict.

Senior officials in the Health Department confirmed that they were helpless in snakebite cases as the anti-venom injections were not made available by the department top brass and victims were usually treated for months before they finally die.

In 2011, the state had announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for death/permanent incapacitation, Rs 20,000 for major injury and Rs 5,000 for medical expenses for minor injury due to attacks by wild animals. However, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests revised the compensation amount to Rs 2 lakh for death/permanent incapacitation, 30 per cent of Rs 2 lakh for grievous injury and actual cost of treatment for minor injury. Further the Centre fixed reimbursement of actual loss to crops or property as is fixed by the authorised officer appointed by the state government.

In the past almost five years shortage of funds has meant that either the relief was delayed or kept pending.

“In 2014, the Wildlife Department had allocated Rs 20 lakh to pay compensation to victims, but the treasury did not clear it, while in 2015 the government made no budgetary provision and released money only when the families of victims raised a hue and cry,” said senior officials in the department.

Venomous species 

• Punjab has three major venomous snake species — Russel’s viper, common krait and spectacled cobra
• Most of the victims of snakebite are rural poor, labourers, farmers, women and children
• Wild boars, blue bulls, sambars and some rabbit species also cause loss to crops and property in many parts of the state