Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A shortage of anti-venom serum and anti-rabies vaccine is gripping the state amid monsoon season, leading to rising concern as snakebite cases surge. With snakes becoming more active during the rains and more people working in fields and flooded areas, incidents have sharply increased.
The state government has declared snakebite cases as a disaster after around 2,500 deaths were reported last year. The trend continues to worsen each monsoon, with waterlogging in snake habitats pushing them closer to human settlements. In such cases, the state provides ₹4 lakh compensation for snakebite deaths.
According to sources in the Directorate of Medical Education and Health Department, no major procurement of anti-venom serum has been done this year, despite the onset of monsoon—leading to critical shortage in many districts.
Mayank Agrawal, Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Public Health Services Corporation Limited (MPPHSCL), acknowledged the crisis but called it a result of seasonal demand. “Actually, there is over-demand of anti-venom serum due to monsoon.
There is no such shortage in anti-venom and anti-rabies serum. But due to over-demand of these things, it looks like a shortage at district level. Besides, district officials are authorised for local purchasing (LP) in case of emergency, as collectors keep reviewing the health situation,” he said.
