In Parseoni, a man suffered a snakebite at 2:30 pm. He initially relied on local remedies, chewing herbs as advised by nearby residents. When he began showing symptoms, his family took him to a primary healthcare centre. The blood test showed no poison, leading to the conclusion that he was bitten by a non-venomous snake. However, as his condition worsened, an expert recommended transferring him to a hospital in Nagpur. Tragically, he was declared dead upon arrival.

This incident is part of a troubling pattern in Maharashtra. According to the Public Health Department, from April 2021 to May 2024, there were 1,27,297 snakebite cases and 686 deaths reported in state hospitals, averaging 3,350 cases and over one death per week. In Nagpur and Akola circles of the Vidarbha region alone, there were 22,917 cases and 202 deaths, accounting for 18% of the state's cases and nearly 30% of its deaths. Nagpur circle, while having fewer cases, recorded the second-highest number of deaths (127) after Nashik (198).

These statistics reflect data from Public Health Department hospitals and do not include other government or private hospitals. Many victims also die at home, their deaths unrecorded in official statistics. Experts highlight several contributing factors to these fatalities, beyond the venom itself. These include delays in seeking medical help, lack of proper treatment awareness, and insufficient training among healthcare staff to recognize symptoms when blood tests fail to detect venom.

Nitish Bhandakkar, Secretary of the Wildlife Welfare Society, noted that superstition and reliance on local faith healers often worsen the victim's condition. This practice is common in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh and some parts of Nagpur district. Victims are brought to professional medical facilities like Government Medical College and Hospital or Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital only when it's too late.

Bhandakkar emphasized the need for better training for primary healthcare staff to administer anti-snake venom promptly. He also stressed the importance of public awareness about the availability of anti-snake venom injections at government hospitals. The Public Health Department confirmed that adequate stocks of these injections were available during the 38 months in question.

Increasing general awareness and ensuring prompt, proper medical response can significantly reduce snakebite fatalities in the region.