A late-night snakebite at the girls' hostel of a private residential school in Jharkhand's Lohardaga district left one student dead and three others critically injured, India Today reported. A venomous krait reportedly bit the girls when they were asleep, leading to the death of 13-year-old Varsha Oraon.
Here's what to know
The incident occurred on July 7 at Sanvasira Higher Secondary Residential School in Rocho Mahuatoli. After dinner, the girls had gone to sleep before the snake entered their room at about 11 p.m.
Varsha Oraon was bitten first, and her cries woke the others. Before help could reach them, Anisha Oraon, Manisha Kumari, and Fulmania Oraon were also bitten.
School teachers rushed the four students to Lohardaga Sadar Hospital during the night. Doctors declared Varsha dead on arrival.
More background
Incidents like this may in some cases be shaped by the way people and wildlife increasingly share space. A BBC Future report noted that expanding human settlement and growing pressure on wildlife habitat can increase contact between wild animals and people.
What's being done?
The response has focused on emergency medical care, India Today reported.
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Teachers transported the girls to Lohardaga Sadar Hospital that night so they could receive urgent treatment.
Fulmania Oraon, still in critical condition, was then referred to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi for more advanced care. Anisha Oraon and Manisha Kumari continued receiving treatment at Lohardaga Sadar Hospital.
At the time of the report, India Today did not describe any additional school- or district-level measures beyond the medical response, though three students remained under treatment.
Where can I learn more?
Snake encounters like this one can turn into medical emergencies fast. These stories cover bites involving children and families in India, broader warnings about rising snakebite risk, and a similar case involving teens in Jerusalem.
• In India, a snake in a washing machine bit two people before causing hospital panic.
• In Bihar, a toddler bit a cobra he mistook for a toy, then collapsed.
• Across India, rising temperatures are worsening snakebite risk and deepening a public health crisis.
• In Jerusalem, two boys were hospitalized after viper bites in a forest.
• Globally, billions could face rising snakebite threats as climate change shifts venomous ranges.
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