Snakebite leaves wife and six children destitute

By Binay Karn, Saptari, Oct. 4: It was night, and everyone was asleep. Suddenly, Mohammad Basir screamed. His family members woke up in alarm and saw a snake fleeing from his bed. They then rushed to arrange treatment. But by the time they managed to arrange a motorcycle, nearly half an hour had passed, and 38-year-old Basir had lost his life.

Basir, who had been bitten by a venomous common krait, was taken to Kanchanpur Hospital, about seven kilometres away. However, he had already died before reaching the hospital.

The incident, which occurred eight days ago, has not only plunged a poor family in Raghunathpur, Kanchanrup Municipality-9, Saptari, into mourning but has also left the future of six minor children uncertain.

“He was bitten on his back by a krait while he was asleep. There was even blood at the bite site,” said 32-year-old Khairul Khatun, recalling her husband's death with tears in her eyes.

Basir had been the family's main breadwinner, earning a living through daily wage labour in other people's houses and fields. Following his death, Khairul and their six children have been left without support.