A three-month-old baby died of a snake bite in Vellore district on Thursday. The parents saw a snake biting their son and immediately rushed the baby to a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) for treatment. The PHC later referred the baby to Vellore Government Medical College and Hospital. However, the baby died on the way to the hospital.
According to The New Indian Express, the parents of the baby, Selvi and Kanniyappan of Asanampattu village, identified a snake biting their son's hand on Thursday. They immediately took him to Odukathur Government Primary Health Centre. However, the doctors referred them to Vellore GMCH.
On the way to the hospital, the baby died.
Deputy Director of Health Banumathi said that they had the required medicines at the PHC and the baby was sent only after being administered to the medicines.
The baby could have been saved had they come early, she told TNIE.
Vellore Collector Kumaravel Pandian said that the parents should be cautious. Since their house was located on the foot of the mountain the snake reached their home during the rainy season, as per the report.
This is not the first case of snake bites death in the Vellore district.
In May, a mother was made to carry the body of her toddler who died in a snake bite.
Thanushka, an 18-month-old girl, was sleeping outside her house when a snake bit her. The parents, who were also sleeping close, recognised the seriousness of the situation and rushed the toddler to Anaikattu Government Hospital. However, their travel was delayed due to bad roads. When they arrived at the hospital, the physicians said that the infant was dead on arrival.
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After an autopsy, the body was handed over to the parents for cremation. The deceased child was transported in an ambulance, but the driver was unable to continue owing to the muddy route.