India Faces High Snakebite Fatalities

During a Lok Sabha session, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy highlighted the alarming statistic that India has the highest snakebite mortality rate in the world, with around 50,000 deaths annually and 30-40 lakh snakebites reported each year. He attributed the rising incidents of snakebites to climate change, particularly noting an increase when temperatures exceed 28 degrees Celsius, and emphasized that many fatalities could be preventable. Other MPs raised various social issues, including M Kathir Anand's call for better wages and pensions for beedi workers, and Harsimrat Kaur's allegations of corruption in Punjab's Integrated Child Development Scheme. Kanyakumari MP Vijay Vasanth urged the government to reassess the Ayushman Bharat scheme to ensure comprehensive healthcare coverage. The discussions underscored the intersection of health, economic, and environmental challenges faced in India.