Balangir: In a tragic mishap, a brother-sister duo reportedly died from snakebite in Balangir district of Odisha on Monday night. 

The deceased minors identified Mehek (3) and brother Dhuke Shyam (7), were children of Abdul Rehman, a resident of Malgodam Pada within Balangir Town police limits. 

As per reports, the siblings were sleeping on the floor after coming back from the mosque when they were bitten by a venomous snake late in the night. Family members claimed spotting the reptile but when asked, the children denied being bitten by it.

However, their health started deteriorating soonafter. On seeing them vomit a few moments later, parents of the minors suspected snakebite and rushed them to Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital. But doctors said the venom had spread in the children's bodies due to delay and declared them brought dead.  

Official sources said the postmortem of the bodies will be carried out today and exact cause of death established after the autopsy report arrives. 

A pall of gloom desecended in the area as the news of the unfortunate deaths, spread.