Tribals trek 18-km to save woman bitten by snake in Chhattisgarh

The incident took place on Thursday in Chutkava village which is situated deep inside Bastar’s Bijapur district.

Updated on: Nov 8, 2019, 13:48:17 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

In a bid to save the life of a woman suffering from snakebite, five tribals from a Maoist-affected village in Chhattisgarh trekked 18-km carrying her for about six hours.

The woman was bitten by the snake when she went to a jungle near the village, said a villager. (HT Photo)

The incident took place on Thursday in Chutkava village which is situated deep inside Bastar’s Bijapur district.

“No vehicle can reach our village since it is Maoist-affected and deep inside a jungle and the terrain is also very difficult. Hence, we decided to carry the woman on a cot,” said Joga Madvi, a resident of the village.

Madvi said that the woman, Kavasi Lakhmi, was bitten by the snake when she went to a jungle near the village.

“We first tried our local methods for the treatment of the woman, but we realised that she was not recovering. Subsequently, we decided to go to Basaguda block hospital,” said Madvi, adding it was a long way but they had no option.

“It took around 6 hours on foot but we are used to it because no one can reach our village on vehicle and ferrying is the only option if any human life is in danger,” said another villager, Rama Mandvi.

The woman was shivering, her eyes were half-closed and her breathing was fast when she was brought to the Basaguda block hospital. She was immediately shifted to Bijapur district hospital, said BR Pujari, chief medical and health officer ( CMHO), Bijapur talking to Hindustan Times.

“The patient was in serious condition when she reached Bijapur district hospital but now she is out of danger and recovering,” said the CMHO.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.