Mumbai: Two women die of snake bites in Maharashtra's Thane district

The bodies were later sent to a government hospital for postmortem. Representational Pic

Two women have died of snake bites in separate incidents in Maharashtra's Thane district, according to police statement on Thursday, June 5.

A snake bit Rani Harishchandra Nimse, a 19-year-old engineering student, while she was asleep at her home in Alyani village on Wednesday afternoon, an official from Shahapur police station said, reported news agency PTI.

"She was immediately taken to a rural hospital in Shahapur for treatment. As her condition worsened, she was referred to the Thane Civil Hospital, but she succumbed on the way to the medical facility," the official said, reported PTI.

In another incident on Wednesday, Reshma Ajay Diva (22), resident of Dukhambe in Bhatsa Nagar, was bitten by a snake when she ventured into a forest area to collect some vegetables, an official from Khardi police station said.

She collapsed on the spot. The body was later sent to a government hospital for postmortem, an official stated, reported PTI.

The police have registered accidental death reports in both incidents and advised residents in rural and forest-adjacent areas to remain vigilant, especially during the monsoon months.

People have also been advised to take precautions while venturing into forest areas and sleeping on the floor, the police said.

Forest officials probe source of snakes used by foreign influencers

Earlier in March, following the report in mid-day about foreign influencers allegedly mishandling snakes protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, sources from the Maharashtra Forest Department informed mid-day that the investigation to identify those responsible for supplying live snakes to the international influencer in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai has commenced.

A team from the forest department also visited the location in Navi Mumbai where the snake handling was done and the forest department found containers/jars that may have been used to transport the snakes.

A forest department official said, "We have got the list of the snake rescuers from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai who have allegedly supplied the live snakes to both the international influencers for making videos. We have also got a group picture where 15 people are seen posing with both the influencers and we suspect that these people have supplied the live snakes. We will be investigating their roles and they will soon be called for questioning."

(With PTI inputs)