Minister – Theprint – Pifeed

Bhubaneswar, March 13 (PTI) Odisha reported 1,859 deaths from snake bites for 2023-24 and 2024-25, a minister reported the assembly on Thursday.

“According to the preliminary report, 1,150 people died due to snake coils in 2023-24, while another 709 lost their lives in 2024-25,” said the Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management (R&D) (R&D), Suresh Pujari.

The greatest number of deaths from snake bite was reported by the Cuttack district (162), followed by Ganjam (155), Balasore (139), Keonjhar (132) and Sundargarh (102). The Gajati district registered the lowest number of deaths from snake bites, with only 10 cases reported during this period, he added.

Of the 1,150 deaths of snake bites reported in 2023-24, the compensation has been released to family members of 1,022 victims, while 22 reports were rejected and 106 cases remain pending on several levels, Pujari added.

By 2024-25, of the 709 reported cases, payments of former gratia have been provided to the relatives of 435 victims, while eight cases were rejected after an exhaustive investigation, and 266 cases are still under investigation, the minister said.

Pujari clarified that pending cases are under consideration in the levels of Tahasildar, subcolector and collector due to delays in obtaining viscera reports and other required documents.

The minister said that the Odisha government declared Snake Bitras a specific disaster of the State on April 1, 2015, and provides former RS ​​4 Lakh gratia to the relatives of each victim of snake bite.

The compensation is transferred directly to the bank account of the deceased’s relatives through the Disaster Assistance Payment and Monitoring System (DAMPS). PTI BBM BBM MNB

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