07-27-2008, 11:54 PM
Statesman News Service
SHIMLA, July, 27: This oneââ¬â¢s straight out of a Bollywood potboiler, or so it would seem. 56-year-old Satya Devi of Solan district has been bitten by snakes of different kinds at least 70 times in the last three decades and still manages to get about her daily chores!
Many of these snakes are said to be poisonous. She was bit for the first time in 1980 in the fields and was rushed to the famous Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, which produces anti-venom serum. She was treated there regularly after subsequent snake-bites.
Snakes, according to her, would coil around her limbs after biting. Even her family members, especially children, are scared of coming near her at night for they too may be exposed to snake-bites. ââ¬ÅSome people say it's a curse and I am fed up. I have visited many local tantriks also but there is no relief,ââ¬Â she says.
According to experts at CRI, Satya Devi has probably acquired some resistance to the poison after initial injections of the anti-snake serum. But each snake-bite would erode the resistance, leading to serious complications in the long run.
But the mystery is why the snakes choose her for frequent bites.
The vice-president of her Panchayat has demanded that medical researchers should take up her case for understanding the mysterious phenomenon.
In another case, a 60 year-old-man in the adjoining Sirmour district has survived 23 snake-bites in the last two decades and ââ¬Åthe snake-bites have now become a routineââ¬Â for him. Old villagers in the area believe that they are ââ¬Årevenge bitesââ¬Â against his killing a snake 23 years ago.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=215773
SHIMLA, July, 27: This oneââ¬â¢s straight out of a Bollywood potboiler, or so it would seem. 56-year-old Satya Devi of Solan district has been bitten by snakes of different kinds at least 70 times in the last three decades and still manages to get about her daily chores!
Many of these snakes are said to be poisonous. She was bit for the first time in 1980 in the fields and was rushed to the famous Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, which produces anti-venom serum. She was treated there regularly after subsequent snake-bites.
Snakes, according to her, would coil around her limbs after biting. Even her family members, especially children, are scared of coming near her at night for they too may be exposed to snake-bites. ââ¬ÅSome people say it's a curse and I am fed up. I have visited many local tantriks also but there is no relief,ââ¬Â she says.
According to experts at CRI, Satya Devi has probably acquired some resistance to the poison after initial injections of the anti-snake serum. But each snake-bite would erode the resistance, leading to serious complications in the long run.
But the mystery is why the snakes choose her for frequent bites.
The vice-president of her Panchayat has demanded that medical researchers should take up her case for understanding the mysterious phenomenon.
In another case, a 60 year-old-man in the adjoining Sirmour district has survived 23 snake-bites in the last two decades and ââ¬Åthe snake-bites have now become a routineââ¬Â for him. Old villagers in the area believe that they are ââ¬Årevenge bitesââ¬Â against his killing a snake 23 years ago.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=215773