“Please save me. I don’t want to die. If the situation remains the same, I won’t survive for long. Please help,” said Vikas Diwedi, a 24-year-old boy from Soura village of Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district, who claimed he was bitten seven times by the same snake in the past 40 days. A doctors’ panel, which the health department set up after Dwivedi sought help, has rubbished his claims and diagnosed him with snake phobia (ophidiophobia). The diagnosis, however, hasn’t given any respite to the 24-year-old and his family, who have questioned the authenticity of the report, saying the diagnosis was done without examining the patient.
THE BEGINNING
Dwivedi said he was first bitten by the snake on June 2, while arranging his bedding in the late evening hours. “Ours is a large family and we have to arrange our bedding everyday. On June 2, too, I was arranging my bedding when I experienced a sharp pain in my leg. It seemed as if I accidentally hit upon a pointed object lying under the bed. I then noticed a long black-brownish creature slithering under the bed. When I looked down, a chill ran down my spine. It was a huge, almost five-ft-long snake, which appeared to be a cobra. I immediately looked at my feet and noticed the deadly reddish-brown fang mark on my leg. I raised an alarm,” the 24-year-old recollected.
Dwivedi’s father Surendra, who runs a tea shop, said they rushed him to the Ram Snehi Memorial Hospital in the vicinity, where he was admitted to the ICU and underwent treatment for three days. “On June 5, he was discharged. We were happy that our son was safe,” said Surendra.
However, the family’s happiness was short-lived as Dwivedi claimed he was bitten by a snake again on June 8. “On June 8, he was again rushed to the Ram Sanehi Memorial Hospital, where he underwent treatment for another three days,” Surendra said.
THE DREAM
However, the regular case of snake bite turned into a mystery as Dwivedi claimed the same snake was biting him. Adding to it, Dwivedi told his family member that he was told by the snake in his dream that he would continue to bite him another seven times, taking the total bites to nine and the ninth would be fatal. “I don’t know what is happening to me. I’m experiencing a recurring and unsettling dream where a hooded snake appears and communicates that it will bite me nine times, with the ninth bite being fatal. This dream occurs every time I sleep and it’s causing me distress and trauma,” said Dwivedi.
SOUGHT FINANCIAL HELP FROM UP GOVERNMENT
Dwivedi’s father said that, aside from June 2 and June 8, Dwivedi has been bitten by a snake five times over the past 50 days. The situation gained attention when the family sought District Magistrate (DM) Fatehpur’s intervention and financial assistance. Surendra urgently appealed for help, stating he could not afford the treatment needed to save his son.
In response to the family’s appeal, the DM assembled a panel of doctors, forest officers and administrative officials to investigate this unusual case of repeated snake bites. The investigation was to uncover the cause and provide necessary support to the family.
THE FINDINGS
A team of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Rajiv Nayan Giri, SDM Pradeep Raman, Naib Tehsildar City Vijay Prakash Tiwari, Additional CMO Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, Dr Rajendra Verma and Dr NK Saxena visited Ramsanehi Nursing Home and scanned Dwivedi’s hospitalisation records. The details of the treatment method and the medicines applied were seen in the BHT (bed head ticket).
Officials, who were part of the investigation, said it was found that the medicines were given based on suspected poisoning, the doctor also gave an anti-snake venom injection to the victim based on symptoms all seven times.
WHAT THEY FOUND SUSPICIOUS
Dr Giri said that on comparing the snake bite marks with another patient of snake bite, who was from Mohankheda, it was found that Dwivedi’s first mark was similar to that of the patient, while the other six appeared to be different. Another point which Giri said was suspicious was the fact that barring Dwivedi, no other family member had seen the snake. He also questioned why the family preferred to take Dwivedi only to Ram Sanehi Medical College and not to any other hospital. “What also raised our suspicion was the family’s claim that the snake bites only on Sundays or Saturdays, which is absurd,” the CMO told News18.
FINAL REPORT
The investigation committee concluded that it is unlikely for a snake to bite someone repeatedly in such a short period. The first incident on June 2 was a genuine snake bite, and after treatment, Dwivedi recovered. “However, the committee believes Dwivedi has since developed snake phobia, causing him to feel as though he is being bitten repeatedly. Currently, Dwivedi is not in Fatehpur. Upon his return, he will receive treatment from a psychiatrist,” the CMO said, while referring to the final report.
WHAT IS SNAKE PHOBIA?
Snake phobia or ophidiophobia is an extreme and overwhelming fear of snakes, which is classified as a type of anxiety disorder. Officials with the health department said this condition can be associated with herpetophobia, which is the fear of all reptiles. While many people have some fear of snakes, ophidiophobia is so intense that it disrupts a person’s life, well-being or sense of safety. Those with ophidiophobia, known as ophidiophobes, may exhibit unusual behaviour in social, educational, or professional settings due to their fear. They often avoid places where snakes might be found, such as friends’ homes, pet stores and zoos. Panic attacks can be triggered by the sight or sound of something resembling a snake such as a rope or a hiss. Even the mere mention of snakes can cause intense anxiety. To avoid encountering snakes, ophidiophobes might take drastic measures, like choosing where to live or refusing to go outdoors.
FAMILY QUESTIONS REPORT
Dwivedi’s family has questioned the report, alleging the diagnosis was made without examining the patient. “How can a diagnosis be made without examining the patient? In our case, it happened. The doctors on the panel diagnosed Vikas with snake phobia, whereas the truth is that none of the doctors approached him or any family member for any examination. Also, by the time the panel was formed (on July 12) and had submitted the report (on July 15), Vikas was out of town. He went to Tirupati Balaji along with the family members,” said Radha Krishna Diwedi, Dwivedi’s uncle.
Amid allegations and counter, Dwivedi continues to live in fear.
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