A 15-year-old girl named Riya from the Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh, India, has become the center of a baffling and terrifying ordeal. Over the past 40 days, Riya has reportedly been bitten by the same snake not once, but nine times. The repeated attacks have triggered panic within her family and the local community, prompting calls for investigation and intervention from authorities.

The first incident occurred on July 22nd when Riya was bitten by a snake while in the field. Her condition quickly deteriorated, leading to her immediate admission to the Sirathu Community Health Center. Since then, the horrifying pattern has continued, with the second bite occurring on August 13th and four more bites between August 27th and 30th. The most recent incident took place at 6 pm on a Sunday, while Riya was inside her house.

According to the family, the snake is a mysterious black snake with green stripes that appears suddenly, regardless of whether Riya is in the house, in the field, or even while she is bathing. Approximately an hour after each bite, Riya faints. The situation has caused immense distress and financial strain on Riya's family, who have exhausted their savings on her treatment. They have even resorted to exorcism in desperation. Riya's younger siblings have been sent to their maternal grandparents' house out of fear, and the family is now contemplating leaving the village altogether.

Medical professionals are also perplexed by the unusual case. Dr. Akhilesh Singh, a Medical Officer at Sirathu CHC, confirmed that Riya has been brought to the hospital multiple times, each time with visible snake teeth marks on her legs. She has been administered antivenom injections and, on occasion, referred to the district hospital or Prayagraj when her condition worsened. Doctors find the repeated snake bites on the same person highly unusual and have called for a thorough investigation. Some experts have suggested that changes in the environment or interference with the snake's natural habitat may be a contributing factor. Others speculate that the snake might be non-venomous, such as a water snake, given Riya's recovery after each treatment.

The villagers have expressed their concerns and frustration over the lack of action from the forest department and local administration. The family has appealed to the authorities for financial support amid mounting medical costs. The chief medical officer advised the family to visit a government-run hospital where she could get anti-snake venom free of cost.

This is not the first instance of repeated snake bites in Uttar Pradesh. In July 2024, a 24-year-old man named Vikas Dwivedi from Soura village of Fatehpur district was reportedly bitten by a snake seven times in 40 days. Dwivedi claimed that he encountered the same hooded snake repeatedly, even in his dreams, and that the snake warned him it would bite him nine times, ultimately leading to his death.

These incidents raise several questions and concerns about human-wildlife conflict, environmental changes, and the availability of proper medical care in rural areas. Further investigation and action from relevant authorities are crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected communities and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.