Chatra: A 45-year-old man was rushed to hospital in Chatra district on Saturday by residents of Barwadih village and family members, who claimed he had swallowed two snakes.Doctors, however, did not confirm whether he swallowed the snakes but said that, based on the claims made by family members of Budhan Bharti and villagers, they administered necessary treatment and medicines and kept him under observation.Medical officer-in charge of Pratappur community health centre (CHC), Dr Kumar Sanjeev, said, “The patient underwent a blood clotting test commonly recommended in suspected snakebite cases. His clotting parameters were normal and there was no evidence of venom in his body. He showed no clinical symptoms and all his vital signs were stable.”On whether he actually consumed a snake, he added, “It was not possible to conclusively establish through an ultrasound examination. Only an endoscopy can confirm, but we do not have the facility at our centre.”Regional deputy director (health) of North Chotanagpur, Dr Vijay Shankar, told TOI that people eat live snakes in many parts of the country. “Tribals in Andaman do so and it’s not new. Non-poisonous snakes are not harmful if chewed and swallowed,” he said.Bharti chewed and swallowed two live snakes around 10-15 inches in length, his family members and local mukhiya Manoj Kumar Sahu alleged. They intervened when he was about to consume a third snake, which was found dead and carried by Bharti to the hospital. The species could not be independently verified. Sahu said he arranged a vehicle to rush him to the CHC.Bharti’s wife, Reshmi Devi, on the other hand, claimed that after consuming two snakes, he also drank alcohol. Bharti allegedly told villagers that he ate the snakes “for fun” and to remove people’s fear.
The carcass of the third snake
Budhan Bharti
Bharti at the CHC onS aturday
