Four individuals, including two children, lost their lives to snakebites in separate incidents across remote villages of Ganjam district on Wednesday night.
The victims—Jema Mundaja and her son Ganesh from Radhikadeipur, and Damayanti Shabar with her niece Limi Karji from Bilugam—succumbed due to delayed medical intervention and inaccessible terrain.
According to local sources, the absence of proper roads and emergency services severely hampered rescue efforts. In Radhikadeipur, the mother-son duo was bitten while asleep and faced hours-long delays before reaching Anandapur Sub-Divisional Hospital. Similarly, in Bilugam, villagers had to carry the victims through forest paths to reach transport, but both died en route to Berhampur.
The incidents have sparked outrage among residents, who allege systemic neglect and demand urgent healthcare infrastructure upgrades. No official statement has yet been issued by district authorities.
