In Moolakkad, Vannamada, an eight-year-old girl, Asbiya Fathima, lost her life to a snakebite in the early hours of Tuesday. Asbiya, the daughter of Muhammed Jubairali and Sabiya Begum, was sleeping on a mat in a single-room shed with her grandmother, Rahmath (45), who was also bitten by the snake.
Rahmath, who was the first to feel the bite, raised an alarm that awakened family members and neighbours, who quickly rushed her to the Chittoor Taluk Hospital for treatment, as per a report on Manorama. Sana, who had been with her grandmother during the time of the snake attack, also accompanied the latter to the hospital.
The family reached the hospital at approximately 2:30 AM but shortly after their arrival Sana unexpectedly collapsed and began to vomit, showing severe signs of distress. Upon closer examination, medical staff discovered that she, too, had been bitten by the snake. Despite immediate medical intervention and efforts to stabilise her condition, the young girl’s life could not be saved, reported Mathrubhumi.
Following the tragic incident, the Kozhinjampara police carried out a detailed inquest to document the circumstances surrounding her death. Subsequently, her body was transferred to the district hospital mortuary, where a post-mortem examination was scheduled to confirm the cause of death.
Asbiya was a fourth-grade student at Government Lower Primary School in Kunnankattupathy and is survived by her younger sister, Asma Taslin.
The tragedy comes at a time when Kerala is striving to become the first Indian state with zero snakebite fatalities. A crucial element in achieving this goal is the SARPA (Snake Awareness Rescue and Protection) app, an initiative launched by the Kerala Forest Department in response to high-profile snakebite cases, including the deaths of Shahla and Uthra. SARPA aims to provide rapid snake rescue and prompt medical assistance by connecting users to certified snake handlers and nearby hospitals equipped with anti-venom.
Once there is a bite, the app will also provide directions to the nearest hospital with anti-venom availability.