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‘We thought we would lose him’: Nashik boy recovers from snakebite, father thanks doctors for quick response

Trained by Dr Sadanand Raut from the Pune district, Nashik primary health centre doctor saves a 16-year-old boy bitten by a snake.

Under the guidance of Dr Sadanand Raut, an expert on snakebite treatment, the PHC's medical officer, Dr Mayur Barpande, ensured that Om received an additional dose while being transported by ambulance to the sub-district hospital at Niphad. (Source: Express Photo)

Suhas Sonawane’s heart skipped a beat when his son Om, 16, screamed that a snake had bitten him on the afternoon of August 10. Without wasting a moment, this farmer from the Deogaon village in the Niphad tehsil of Nashik took him to a primary health centre. Fortunately, the doctor on duty had recently undergone a state-level training in handling snakebite emergencies and immediately followed the standard protocol.

Three vials of anti-snake venom (ASV) were administered on the spot. Under the guidance of Dr Sadanand Raut, an expert on snakebite treatment, the PHC’s medical officer, Dr Mayur Barpande, ensured that Om received an additional dose while being transported by ambulance to the sub-district hospital at Niphad.

To ensure there were no complications during the night, the boy was transferred to the Civil Hospital in Nashik for further observation. Thanks to the prompt and effective intervention at the PHC, his condition stabilised, and Om did not need ventilator support.

“I was terrified. My son had developed a rash and was crying in intense pain. But the quick response and incredible care from Dr Barpande, guided by Dr Raut, have helped in a faster recovery,” the father said.

In another instance in July, Suresh Ichake, 36, from the Kavathe village in the Shirur tehsil of Pune, suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest after being bitten by a venomous cobra at his farm. His brother Sharad had heard of a similar snakebite case from the same village and recalled that the family had taken the victims to Vighnahar Hospital in Narayangaon.

“The villager had recovered, and I decided to take my brother to the hospital,” he said.

Dr Raut, who runs Vighnahar Hospital, has saved over 12,000 lives in the last two decades as part of the Mission Zero initiative to eliminate snakebite deaths. He recalled that his team initiated CPR, inserted a breathing tube, and began artificial respiration in their efforts to save Ichake’s life.

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“Antivenom and emergency medication were administered. Ichake regained consciousness three days after the incident, underwent two surgeries and a skin graft. Not only was his hand saved, but he regained full finger movement,” said Dr Raut, who is also a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s roster of snakebite experts.

Recently, the model rural health unit in Vani in the Nashik district, collaborated with the state public health department to train over 450 medical officers from the Nashik and Nandurbar districts. This training was conducted as part of the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming, with sessions led by Dr Raut.

Over 14,000 snakebite cases, 70 deaths in Maharashtra this year

Dr Sunita Golhait, Joint Director of Health (Hospitals), said 14,815 snakebite cases and 70 snakebite deaths were reported from January to June across Maharashtra this year. The figures for the corresponding period last year were 13,613 cases and 66 deaths.

“We have directed each district to prepare a snakebite action plan. The CEO of each zilla parishad will coordinate the activities and prepare an action plan to create awareness about poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, the role of primary level prevention and care,” Dr Golhait said.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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