A 66-year-old trader has died after being bitten by a snake in Kadayanallur, Tenkasi district, with a subsequent inquiry resulting in show-cause notices to two nurses at the government hospital. The notices were issued after the deceased man’s relatives alleged that he did not receive appropriate treatment in time.
The deceased was identified as Sudarmani, a murukku trader from Muthukrishnapuram in Kadayanallur. According to Dinamalar, he was bitten by a Russell’s viper while removing a sack from his house on the night of October 9.
Sudarmani was taken to a government hospital after the incident. His relatives alleged that he died because he did not receive proper treatment. They later staged a protest, prompting district health authorities to initiate an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Premalatha, joint director of medical services in Tenkasi district, conducted the inquiry, the report said. She stated that show-cause notices had been issued to two nurses for allegedly failing to properly inform the doctor about the patient.
The notices seek explanations from the nurses regarding the handling of information about Sudarmani’s condition. The report does not provide details of the treatment administered, the time taken to reach the hospital, whether anti-snake venom was given, or the findings of any clinical review.
The case has also been taken up by the Kadayanallur police, who are investigating. The health department’s inquiry and the police investigation will determine the sequence of events at the hospital and whether procedural lapses contributed to the death. No further official findings were cited in the report.
