56-Year-Old Vasai Woman Dies Of Snakebite As Palghar Cases Surge By 57%

A 56-year-old woman from Bhatane in Vasai (E) died on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli following a venomous snakebite. Her death comes as Palghar district reports a sharp 57 percent rise in snakebite incidents over the past year.

The victim, Suman Kom, was working on an agricultural farm on August 8 when a venomous snake bit her on the hand. She was initially taken for medical care and later shifted to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli, where she passed away during treatment on Wednesday.

Her death has renewed serious concerns over snakebite hazards across Palghar district, particularly for residents working in agricultural fields and rural areas.

Data from government health facilities in Palghar shows a total of 4,128 snakebite cases recorded between April 2023 and March 2025. The annual number of reported cases rose significantly from 1,609 between April 2023 and March 2024 to 2,519 in the period from April 2024 to March 2025, representing an increase of 910 cases.

During the 2023-2024 period, government health centers in the district handled an average of four to five snakebite cases per day. That figure climbed to nearly seven cases daily over the subsequent year, averaging approximately 48 cases a week and 210 cases a month across the district.