10 September, 2025 – Patiala : As the floodwater has started receding and life is inching back to normal, people living in flood-hit areas are facing yet another challenge — of a reptile encounter as they venture out in the fields. In August, 690 cases of snakebite were reported. Out of those, 129 were reported from flood-hit Gurdaspur area.
As many as 81 cases of snakebite were reported from Jalandhar, Patiala 58, Ludhiana 52 and Amritsar 48.
A sharp increase in snakebite cases was witnessed in the last week of August when areas of Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Amritsar were witnessing flood and the water level had risen to the danger mark in Sutlej and Ghaggar rivers.
Sources said that over 200 cases have been witnessed from across the state — majority of those from flood-hit areas — in the first week of September alone.
Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, while issuing an advisory, said that due to the rising water level, snakes have been forced out of burrows and have entered soiled and dark corners of homes. That is leading to a rise in human-reptile encounter, said the minister.
He said, “The real challenge starts now, once the water recedes.” He advised residents to remain cautious against snake and dog bites, urging them to carry torches and sticks at night.
Despite the availability of anti-snake venom in government hospitals, the minister expressed concern over delayed reporting by patients and appealed to the public to seek immediate medical help.
Dr Balbir issued directions to officials and urged residents to dial 104 in case of emergencies such as high fever, acute diarrhoea, snakebite or dog bites.
He requested the Union Health Minister to release Rs 780 crore to provide medical services to people in flood-affected areas and rebuild the damaged medical infrastructure.
He said that medicines worth Rs 130 crore had been destroyed, 1,280 dispensaries and health and wellness centres severely damaged and 101 community health centres and 31 sub-divisional hospitals impacted.
The Tribune