Snakebite: Boy dies after 2-hour struggle between hospitals in Nuh
A four-year-old boy, Taimur, died from a snakebite after being shuttled between two of Nuh’s largest hospitals without receiving timely treatment. The incident has brought to light the severe healthcare challenges in Haryana’s most under-developed district, Nuh. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has ordered an inquiry, while the family is calling on Health Minister Arti Rao to take strict action.
Taimur’s father, Salim, explained that his son was bitten by a snake while playing at their home in Razaka village. The family rushed him to Al Afia General Hospital in Mandikhera, but the hospital referred them to Nalhar Medical College due to the lack of an ICU. However, Nalhar officials claimed the child did not need the ICU and lacked anti-venom injections, sending them back to Mandikhera.
“We were going back and forth between hospitals for over two and half hours. The injections were finally given at Mandikhera, but by then, my child was collapsing. They told us to return to Nalhar, but he died on the way,” said Salim, speaking to The Tribune. “These hospitals are responsible for our child’s death.”
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, and an inquiry has been initiated by CMO Dr Sarvjeet Thapar. Nuh MLA Aftab Ahmed criticised the state of healthcare in the district, saying, “This tragedy exemplifies the real state of Haryana. One hospital lacks an ICU, while the other doesn’t have basic anti-venom injections. Despite promises of world-class healthcare, basic medical services remain a luxury in Mewat, where many still fall victim to inadequate treatment.”
