Vasai: A 56-year-old woman died of snakebite while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kandivli on Wednesday, raising concerns over the rising number of snakebite cases in Palghar district.Suman Kom, a resident of Bhatane in Vasai (E), was working on a farm on Aug 8 when a venomous snake bit her on the hand. She was initially taken for treatment and later shifted to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli. She died during treatment on Wednesday.The incident comes amid a sharp rise in snakebite cases reported across Palghar district. As many as 4,128 snakebite cases were recorded at govt health facilities in the district between April 2023 and March 2025.The number of cases increased from 1,609 in April 2023-March 2024 to 2,519 in the following year, marking a rise of 910 cases, or nearly 57%.During the first year, govt health facilities recorded an average of four to five snakebite cases a day. The figure rose to nearly seven cases a day in the following year, translating into around 48 cases a week and 210 cases a month.The latest death has once again highlighted the growing concern over snakebite incidents, particularly among people working in agricultural fields and rural areas of the district.
