A tragic incident in India has been reported after a 13-year-old boy died following a snakebite, with his family allegedly relying on a shaman’s advice instead of taking him to a hospital for urgent medical treatment.
According to foreign media reports on April 16, 2026, the boy, identified as Amit, a fourth-grade student from Pitampura village, was bitten by a snake and immediately informed his family.
Instead of seeking emergency medical care, the family reportedly consulted a local shaman, who advised them to immerse the boy in the Ganges River, believing the sacred water would neutralise the venom.
Following the advice, the family allegedly tied the boy to a bamboo pole and submerged him in the river for around 12 hours in an attempt to cure him.
However, when they later checked on him, he showed no signs of life. He was rushed to a hospital, but doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival.
Further reports also claimed that after learning of the boy’s death, the family attempted to dispose of his body in the Ganges River, sparking widespread shock and public criticism.
Medical officials at a local health centre stated that the boy was never brought to a state hospital after the snakebite, stressing the importance of immediate medical attention in such emergencies.
Health experts reiterated that snakebite cases are treatable if antivenom is administered quickly, but delays of even a few hours can significantly increase the risk of death.
Authorities have long urged communities to seek hospital treatment immediately in the event of snakebites, highlighting this incident as a tragic reminder of the dangers of relying on unverified traditional practices over medical care.
