Gajapati: In a tragic incident, a woman and her seven-year-old son died after they were allegedly bitten by common kraits while sleeping at their home in Odisha's Gajapati district.

The incident occurred at Kadambatal village under Jalang Panchayat in Rayagada block.

The deceased have been identified as Lalita Badarait (30) and her seven-year-old son Amit. Lalita's husband, Ajay Kumar Badarait, and their one-and-a-half-year-old daughter narrowly escaped the incident.

According to reports, Ajay was sleeping in the house on Thursday night along with his wife, son and young daughter when two common kraits reportedly entered the house and bit Lalita and Amit.

The mother and son woke up in severe pain and cried for help, alerting Ajay. When he got up, he reportedly saw the two snakes moving inside the house.

Family members immediately rushed the victims to the Rayagada Community Health Centre for treatment. As their condition deteriorated, both were referred to the District Headquarters Hospital in Paralakhemundi.

Despite medical efforts, Lalita and her son succumbed to the snakebite while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Ajay and his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter escaped unharmed.

The incident has cast a pall of gloom over Kadambatal village, with residents expressing shock and grief over the loss of the mother and child.

Snakebite cases often rise during the monsoon season in Odisha, when snakes enter human settlements in search of dry shelter.