Raksha Bandhan Tragedy: Two Siblings Die of Snakebite in Punjab
Raikot, August 27, 2026: A family in Bassian village’s Uppal Patti area in Punjab was struck by tragedy ahead of Raksha Bandhan after two young siblings reportedly died following a venomous snakebite while they were sleeping in the courtyard during a power outage.
Seven-year-old Jaspreet Kaur died after the incident, while her eight-year-old brother Jobanpreet Singh succumbed around 18 hours later during treatment at Christian Medical College (CMC) Hospital in Ludhiana.
Brother Raised Alarm During the Night
According to the family, Jobanpreet woke up at around 3 am and told his grandmother that he felt something in his hand.
The family then reportedly found a snake underneath the bedding and rushed the child to the Civil Hospital in Raikot. Given his critical condition, he was subsequently referred to CMC Hospital in Ludhiana for further treatment.
The family later discovered that Jaspreet, who had been sleeping beside her brother, had also suffered a snakebite. Her condition deteriorated and she was taken to hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
Siblings Cremated Together
The siblings were cremated together on Thursday, adding to the grief of the family just before Raksha Bandhan, a festival traditionally associated with the bond between brothers and sisters.
Their mother, Sarabjit Kaur, is currently working in Oman and, according to the family, could not return in time to see her children for the last time. The family alleged that she was not granted leave and was unable to obtain her passport.
Family Raises Questions Over Treatment
The family has also raised questions regarding the treatment provided to Jobanpreet, particularly alleging a delay in his treatment and questioning the response time of the government ambulance that transported him to the hospital.
The allegations have been raised by the family, and further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the treatment and ambulance response were not available in the information provided.
The incident has left the family and the local community in shock, with the deaths of the two siblings coming just days before Raksha Bandhan.
