Daily Times

KHATMANDU: An 18-year-old girl died in Nepal after she was bitten by a snake while sent away to a shed because she was menstruating, part of a long-banned ancient Hindu practice, officials said Saturday.

In Nepal menstruating women are viewed as impure and in many remote areas they are forced to sleep in a hut away from the home during periods, a practice normally known as chhaupadi.

Tulasi Shahi was bitten twice by a venomous snake and died on Friday morning in western Dailekh district, said the local Mayor Surya Bahadur Shahi.

“She survived for seven hours after the snake bite but died because medical treatment was delayed,” said Shahi.

Her family took her to the village shaman – witch doctor – for treatment instead of rushing to the hospital so that the girl could be saved, stated by local media. Local police gave the confirmation of the girl’s death but were unable to provide further details on the cause.

Chhaupadi is linked to Hinduism and considers women impure and untouchable when they menstruate, as well as after child birth.

They are sent away from the home — banned from touching food, religious icons, cattle and men — and forced to sleep in basic huts known as chhau goth.

Two women died in late 2016 in separate incidents while following the ritual — one of smoke inhalation after she lit a fire for warmth, while the other death was unexplained. Rights activists say that many other deaths go unreported.

Chhaupadi was banned a decade ago but is still followed in parts of Nepal, particularly in remote western districts.

Proposed legislation that would mark the practice as criminal activity and make it an imprisonable offence that forces woman to follow the ritual is presently pending in parliament.