India, Aug. 21 -- An occultist was caught treating a snake-bite patient outside the emergency ward of the civil hospital in Palwal, prompting health department to order an inquiry, officials said on Thursday.

The incident took place between 2pm and 2.30pm on Tuesday when a 20-year-old patient, a resident of Chandhut, was brought to the hospital by her family after she was bitten by a snake.

Officials said the patient was administered anti-venom and kept under observation. However, her panicked family members called an occultist, who started performing rituals at the ward entrance in presence of other patients, claiming he could "extract" the venom from her body.

Hospital officials said the family had recorded the incident, and a video ...