4-Year-Old Child Bitten By Deadly Snake Dies Within An Hour, Family Buries Body

A 4-year-old boy was bitten by a deadly snake Thursday night, and died within an hour of facing health issues.

The incident, which occurred in the city of Kurukshetra in the state of Haryana, was reported Sunday. The victim, identified by his first name Karan, was inside his house when he was bitten by the reptile. According to local media reports, the child woke up at night to go to the bathroom and informed his parents about a snake slithering around.

"Around 2.30 am, the boy started complaining of stomach ache, itching and other complications. He was rushed to a hospital. He succumbed at around 3.30 am," the minor's uncle told The Tribune.

The family members were completely unaware of the the presence of the highly venomous snake in the house. The child had only two-three marks on his feet like a mosquito bite, The Times of India reported. The child’s body color was also normal with only a blue tint on the affected foot, the report added.

The boy was first taken to a private hospital and then to a civil hospital in the city. Doctors said he was in a critical condition and needed treatment at a different hospital. The child died within an hour of complaining of stomach pain and itchiness on the feet.

After the child died, the family did not get an autopsy to confirm the cause of death. They later buried the child’s body.

It is believed the snake that bit the child was a highly venomous Krait snake. These reptiles are mostly found in Asian forests and farmland from Pakistan to southern China and southward into Indonesia. They belong to the cobra family, according to Britannica.

“The residents are advised to reach the district civil hospital or the community health centers at village-level without wasting time in case of snake bites. The anti-snake venom serum (ASVS) doses are available with the health department and the time is crucial in such rare cases,” Kurukshetra chief medical officer Dr Sant Lal Verma said, The Times of India reported.