Woman dies after being buried alive under a mound of cow dung by snake charmer

She suffocated to death [Photo: Courtesy]

A woman died after being buried under a mound of cow dung by a snake charmer in a bizarre healing ritual.

The victim, named as Devendri, was collecting wood to burn for cooking at her home in rural India when she was bitten on the hand by a snake.

The 35-year-old ran home to tell her husband, Mukesh, who decided to call the local snake charmer.

The desperate husband agreed to allow snake charmer Murarey to bury the mother-of-five in manure, as he suggested it would suck out the poison.

People gathered outside the house, in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, and watched as Mukesh completely buried Devendri in cow dung while chanting mantras.After 75 minutes, Devendri had died from suffocation.

The snake charmer, Mukesh [Photo: Courtesy]

Husband Mukesh said: "My wife went out to get fire wood and when she was collecting the wood a snake bit her.

"We tried some medicines, a grinded powder, and tied a rope around her arm. But the snake charmer advised us to cover her in cow dung, so we did.

"The snake charmer was confident he could help. We left her in the cow dung for 75 minutes.

"I never thought she would die, I really thought she’d survive, and it’d work. I never thought this would happen."

Snake charmer Murarey said: "I’m known in this area to treat animal bites. I think the snake was a cobra. And yes, she died because she was buried."

Mukesh is now left to raise five children alone. He is completely baffled the burial method did not work on saving his wife.

The victim was a mum-of-five Devendri [Photo: Courtesy]

Station house officer Anand Veer, at Kakod Police Station, said: "We are not aware of this incident at the station. No one has reported anything or lodged a complaint."

Superstition is India is considered a widespread social problem, and usually attributed to a lack of education in rural parts of the country.

Beliefs and practices vary from region to region, with many regions having their own specific traditions and superstitions.

Many beliefs are centuries old and are considered part of tradition and religion, as a result; any introduction of new prohibitory laws often face opposition.