Woman dies from snakebite in menstrual hut despite having concrete home

KATHMANDU: A 28-year-old woman in Kanchanpur district of Sudurpaschim Province has tragically died after being bitten by a venomous snake while forced to sleep in a menstrual shed due to a deep-rooted cultural superstition.

Kamala Aauji of Krishnapur Municipality-1, Nigali, was reportedly sleeping in a fragile and unsafe chhau goth—a menstrual hut—despite having a secure concrete house, simply because she was menstruating.

According to locals, she was bitten by a venomous snake, believed to be a krait, around midnight on Friday.

She was rushed to Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi, but succumbed to the bite during treatment on Saturday night.

Inspector Rajesh Basnet of the Jhalari Area Police Office confirmed that Kamala was bitten while asleep and later died despite medical efforts. While the exact location of the incident is still being clarified by police, locals assert that the tragedy occurred in the menstrual shed, which she was compelled to use due to traditional beliefs.

Kamala’s family had migrated from the hilly district of Achham to the plains, but they continued to follow the regressive practice of isolating menstruating women.

According to the superstition, entering the house during menstruation is believed to anger deities and bring misfortune, leading women like Kamala to be forced into unsafe sheds even when a safe home is available.

The incident has once again exposed the cruel and inhumane reality of chhaupadi, the harmful practice of secluding women during menstruation. Despite legal bans and awareness campaigns, such practices persist, putting women’s lives at serious risk.

Government Efforts Falling Short

Krishnapur Municipality had previously launched a campaign to demolish chhau goths, but the effort has failed to change deep-seated attitudes, said Ward No. 1 Chairperson Mohan Basnet. “We’ve tried hard to remove these sheds, but many locals resist and even argue with us when we advise against using them,” Basnet said. “These sheds are like dark cells without electricity or basic facilities—unsafe places where such tragedies keep recurring.”

He emphasized that despite constitutional rights to safe housing, superstitions continue to claim lives. Mayor Hemraj Ojha also confirmed that Kamala was bitten while sleeping in a chhau goth and said that despite ongoing efforts to eliminate the practice, many families still follow the tradition.