In a horrifying and heartbreaking incident, a 40-year-old father of two from a quiet village in Odisha fought for his life with extraordinary courage — only to lose the battle against a venomous snake.
Sishir Kumar Sethi, younger son of Purushottam Sethi from Anaganja village under Shyamsundarpur Gram Panchayat in Bangiriposi, was sleeping on his bed around 10 PM last night after dinner when a Common Krait snake suddenly bit him hard on the ear.
The snake refused to let go despite Sishir’s desperate attempts to pull it off. With his life hanging in the balance, the brave man bit into the middle of the snake’s body and tore it into two pieces. Shockingly, even after being cut in half, the snake’s head remained firmly clamped to his ear.
Family members struggled for a long time before they could finally detach the snake. As the venom slowly spread through his body, they rushed him to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College & Hospital.
At the hospital, Sishir showed remarkable strength and presence of mind. He continued talking and moving around for a long time despite the poisoning. However, precious time was lost due to a delay in venom testing through blood samples. Before doctors could administer the critical anti-venom injection, the poison had spread extensively through his body and head. Tragically, Sishir breathed his last before treatment could begin.
Doctors declared him dead and handed the body over to Bangiriposi police. A post-mortem was conducted before the body was released to the family.
The death has left the family shattered. Sishir is survived by his parents, wife, seven-year-old son and three-year-old daughter. Heart-rending scenes unfolded as the young children clung to their father’s body, repeatedly crying “Baba! Baba!” The entire village has been plunged into grief, with residents struggling to come to terms with the sudden and gruesome loss.
Friends and relatives find it difficult to accept that such a vibrant life ended in this manner. Local intellectuals have urged the government to provide compensation to the bereaved family at the earliest.
