Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha
Doomdooma: A 10-year-old boy lost his life in an incident in Assam’s Dhemaji district, reflecting the consequences of misinformation, blind faith, and improper first aid following a suspected venomous bite.
The child had accompanied his grandmother to the fields when he was bitten on his finger while playing.
Mistaking it for a snakebite, the grandmother tied a tight cloth above the wound, an age-old but dangerous practice, and instead of rushing him to a hospital, took him to a local traditional healer.
Nearly two crucial hours were lost as rituals continued. Eyewitnesses said the boy collapsed shortly after the constriction was removed, indicating a sudden systemic reaction.
Doctors at the health centre confirmed that he was brought dead. Medical experts explained that tight tourniquets can trap venom in one area, and sudden release may allow it to spread into the bloodstream, causing rapid collapse or death.
Health officials who visited the site also found people attempting to “revive” the child through ritualistic practices even hours after death.
“This was entirely preventable. Awareness and timely medical intervention could have saved him,” an official said.