Himachal girl survives no less than 34 snakebites in three years

Nahan, February 21

Eighteen-year-old Manisha from Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh has been bitten by snakes no less than 34 times, but she lives to tell the tale as she finds them “enchanting”.

In the past three years, snakes of many varieties have bitten her. She says whenever she sees a snake she gets enchanted. “I have been bitten by snakes over 30 times in the past three years. The first time I was bitten was near a river in my village. Recently, I was bitten by a white snake. Whenever I see a snake I get enchanted and then it bites me. There was some time two years ago when I did not get bitten. During school I have been repeatedly bitten by a snake, at times even twice or thrice a day. Astrologers say I have some connection with a deity,” she says.

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However, doctors claim that most of the bites have been by non-poisonous snakes or those with less venom.

According to the medical record, she got bitten for the 34th time on February 18.

Dr YS Parmar Medical College and Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr KK Prashar says she was admitted to the hospital with snakebite on February 18 and is fast recovering. “She was admitted with symptoms of snakebite. It seems harmless as over 80 per cent snakes here are non-poisonous,” he says.

Her father, Sumer Verma, says snakebite for her is nothing unusual. “I have taken her to temples, priests and ‘vaids’ as we believe that with the blessings of local deities the effect of snakebite could be nullified,” he adds.

Whereas locals with some knowledge of the reptiles say the snakes biting her may be non-poisonous. Local forest officer Virender says, “I have no idea which snake has bitten her. We have Russell’s Vipers in Shillai and other areas of Sirmaur. But rattle snakes are also common. Non-poisonous snakes may have bitten her.”

A local vet, on the other hand, says getting continuous snakebites may have developed anti-venom properties in her. “We generally give venom to horses to develop antibodies to prevent snakebites. This might be the reason she is surviving these bites,” says Dr Rohit of the forest department. ANI