Nagpur: A 45-year-old farm worker from Kuhi tehsil died of snakebite at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on Wednesday, while two State Fire Academy trainees were admitted after suspected snakebites during a physical training session the same day.Meena Giri, a farm worker from a village in Kuhi, was bitten while working in a field around 11.30am on Tuesday. She was brought to GMCH that afternoon after developing breathing difficulty.Doctors observed symptoms suggestive of neurotoxic envenomation, including possible cobra bite. Her condition deteriorated and she was put on ventilator support, but she died during treatment on Wednesday.In a separate incident, two trainees at the State Fire Academy’s training centre near Kalamna Fire Station — Yash Sahebrao Idekar of Latur and Akshay Prakash Helinge of Chalisgaon in Jalgaon district — reported suspected bites on their legs.Based on the bite marks and symptoms, GMCH doctors suspected a venomous snakebite. Idekar was administered anti-snake venom and shifted to the ICU. His condition was stable. Helinge showed no symptoms and was kept under observation in the general ward.Municipal commissioner and chief fire officer visited the trainees at GMCH. Kalamna fire station officer Akleem Sheikh and other personnel have been deployed at the hospital.Wildlife Welfare Society member Nitish Bhandarkar said an awareness session for fire personnel had been conducted a few days earlier. He said the session may have helped trainees recognise the seriousness of the incident and seek prompt medical attention.
