Kendujhar: A family in Odisha’s Kendujhar district allegedly turned to two practitioners of witchcraft in a futile attempt to revive a man who had died after being bitten by a venomous snake, sources said.
Sushil Kumar Bhitiria of Bhandaridihi village under the Ghasipura police limits was bitten by a venomous snake and brought to the Anandapur Sub-Divisional Headquarters Hospital Saturday evening, nearly four hours after the incident.
Doctors declared him brought dead, citing the delay in receiving medical treatment, sources said.
Following his death, his family members brought two witchcraft practitioners to the hospital in the hope of reviving him. Their attempts, however, failed, a hospital staff member said.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the persistence of traditional and unscientific practices in some rural and tribal pockets of Odisha.
“Despite awareness campaigns, some people continue to approach quacks and practitioners of occult practices for treatment instead of seeking medical care,” said Debendra Sutar, secretary of the Odisha Rationalist Society.
