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7NEWS
11 hours ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Govinda Kumar: Toddler bites cobra's head and kills it after it coiled around his hands
An incredibly brave two-year-old boy has saved himself by biting a venomous cobra and killing it after the deadly reptile began to coil itself around his hands. Govinda Kumar was playing at his family home in Bettiah, India, last Thursday when the snake appeared. The boy threw a brick at it and the snake retaliated, wrapping itself around the toddler's hands. The infant's family said he did not scream, and instead bit down on the cobra's head. Mateshwari Devi, the boy's grandmother, told the Times of India that when she and the family saw the snake everyone rushed towards Govinda, but 'in the meantime, he already bit the snake, killing it on the spot'. After sinking his teeth into the cobra, Govinda immediately fainted and was rushed to the nearby Government Medical College Hospital. Govinda had ingested some of its venom, and it was enough to knock him unconscious, but thankfully not enough to be fatal. Dr Saurabh Kumar told The Telegraph, that the boy had eaten part of the snake's body, and the venom had caused his mouth and face to swell. He has already been discharged from hospital after responding well to treatment. Dr Kumar said the team was 'surprised' that the child had not been bitten by the cobra, and that it was in fact the other way around. 'The child had eaten a part of the cobra and the venom had gone into his digestive tract, unlike in the cases where the cobra bites the person and venom goes into blood and triggers neurotoxicity,' he said. 'We gave him anti-allergy medicine and kept him under watch. As he didn't develop any symptoms for 48 hours, we discharged the child on Saturday.' The medical team said the cobra appeared to have died from the trauma inflicted from the bite. Doctors at the GMCH hospital said five to six snake bite patients are brought in every month and that Govinda's case is 'highly unusual'. India is home to over 300 species of snake, but the four that most commonly bite humans include the spectacled cobra, common krait, Russel's viper and saw-scaled viper. According to a study in the journal eLife, over a million people in India died from snakebite related incidents between 2000-2019.
News18
2 days ago
- Health
- News18
Snakebites: When Is It Too Late For Anti-Venom Injection?
Last Updated: If you live in a snake-prone area during monsoon, stay alert. Some snakes are highly venomous, and without quick anti-venom treatment, their bite can be deadly Cases of snake bites tend to rise during the rainy season because rainwater floods their burrows, forcing snakes to come out. In search of drier shelter, they often move towards houses or hide in nearby trees, plants, or bushes. India is home to nearly 400 species of snakes, out of which around 60 are venomous. The Russell's viper, Indian cobra, common krait, and saw-scaled viper are considered the most dangerous. If you live in an area prone to snake sightings during the monsoon, it's important to remain extra cautious. Many snakes are so venomous that without immediate medical intervention, including an anti-venom injection, the bite can be fatal. In this situation, knowing how soon anti-venom should be administered after a snake bite and how much anti-venom is required becomes important to save lives in critical situations. In conversation with Dr Dilip Singh, Chief Medical Superintendent at the Government Medical College, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, he tried to answer these important questions: Injection For Snake Bite Dr Dilip Singh explains that the snake anti-venom injection is a prescription medicine given as treatment for venomous snake bites. It is regarded as the most effective remedy for such cases. The anti-venom used is a combination designed to counteract the venom of four major types of snakes. It works by neutralising the venom and can save lives even after a bite from a venomous snake. According to Dr Singh, an anti-venom injection is not needed for non-venomous snake bites. However, in the case of venomous bites, such as those from a cobra or krait, the anti-venom must be administered immediately, ideally within 30 to 40 minutes. If given even earlier, the chances of a faster recovery increase. In some cases, the injection can still be beneficial if administered within 24 hours. Which Venom Attacks Which Organ? According to the expert, before administering anti-venom, it is crucial to understand what kind of snake venom is involved and its effect on the body. Snake venom is broadly categorised into two types: cardiotoxic and neurotoxic. These affect the nervous system and cardiovascular system, respectively. In cardiotoxic cases, symptoms can include heart failure, an increased heart rate, and high or low blood pressure. In neurotoxic cases, patients may experience unconsciousness, fainting, and high-grade fever. Dose Of Anti-Venom According to Dr Singh, the required dose of anti-venom depends on the condition of the patient. In some cases, where the effect of the venom is mild, only one dose is needed. In more serious cases, patients may require three or four follow-up doses. If the snake is highly venomous, a larger quantity of anti-venom may be needed, as each dose may contain fewer antibodies. Types of poison Neurotoxic Poison: This type of venom affects the nervous system, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and even death. Neurotoxin is commonly found in snakes like the cobra, krait, and viper. Haemotoxic Poison: This venom damages blood vessels, which can lead to bleeding, organ failure, and death. Haemotoxin is usually found in snakes like the Russell's viper, tiger snake, and king cobra. Cytotoxic Poison: This type of venom destroys body tissues, resulting in swelling, pain, and potentially death. Cytotoxin is usually found in snakes like the rattlesnake, boa constrictor, and python. Location : Kannauj, India, India First Published: July 28, 2025, 10:28 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Snakes, mosquitoes trigger suburban crisis: Over 8,000 plots turn life miserable for residents of Besa-Pipla
Nagpur: The suburban stretches of Besa, Beltarodi, Pipla, and Ghogli are not only witnessing a real estate boom but also an alarming surge in snake numbers. Thousands of open plots turn into swamps during monsoon, the overgrown grass, and stagnant water providing a perfect breeding ground for the venomous reptiles as well as swarms of mosquitoes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The suburb, tagged as a developing area, has over 8,000 open plots. The residents are scared of bites, from both snakes and disease-spreading mosquitoes breeding at these waterlogged plots. Residents of areas like Central Excise Colony, Pipla, Besa, and more are forced to remain locked inside houses for fear of stepping onto a poisonous snake. "We have filed multiple complaints about open plots to the Nagar Panchayat. They even imposed fines on plot owners, but still the problem remains the same. During the rainy season, snakes are commonly seen outside and even inside our homes. We fear sending children out to play or going out of our homes for even an evening walk as we are afraid of snakes," said Shreyas Muley, a concerned local. "There are thousands of open plots under Besa-Pipla Nagar Panchayat and after recent rains many of them are filled with water. There is a big open plot behind the Beltarodi Police Station which has now become a dumping yard. It is already filled with water, and the dumping of waste has further fueled the mosquito menace. Citizens living in these areas are at a major risk of catching dengue or other vector-borne diseases," said Saransh Chakole, a resident of Beltarodi. The rising number of snake sightings has also kept rescue teams on their toes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sarpamitra Gaju Patle, who has been rescuing snakes in the area for years, said the calls never stop. "In these areas, there are all types of snakes, including venomous ones like cobra, Russell's viper, and common krait. Non-venomous snakes are also found in the area. At night, when there is less moment, the snakes often come out in the open," he said. The Besa-Pipla Nagar Panchayat says it's trying to fight the growing menace, but the sheer volume of unregulated land is proving to be an uphill battle. "There are around 8,000 open plots under the Besa-Pipla Nagar Panchayat. We have recently started taking out water from many plots and even putting anti-malaria oil in plots where water drainage is not possible. We are also regularly carrying out fogging. Many of the plots are illegal. Still, we have imposed Rs 25,000 fines on many plot owners, but the issue persists," admitted CEO Bharat Nandanwar. But for the residents, the official action is too little, too late. What was once sold as the city's emerging residential goldmine is now a ticking health and safety bomb — waiting for stronger, swifter intervention. Until then, dusk in these suburbs brings with it a chilling caution: watch your step, and your breath.
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
World Snake Day celebrated at Bannerghatta Biological Park
Bannerghatta Biological Park, in collaboration with Bannerghatta National Park, Kalinga Foundation, Postcrossing Welfare Society of India, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC), and RoundGlass Sustain, celebrated World Snake Day on Wednesday. Kaiya Arora, Director of Postal Services, Headquarters, Karnataka Circle, Bengaluru, attended the event as the chief guest. Priyanka Swamy from the Kalinga Foundation and staff from WRRC conducted awareness sessions on the conservation and protection of snakes. A.V. Surya Sen, Deputy Conservator of Forests and Executive Director of Bannerghatta Biological Park, and Kajol Ajit Patil, Deputy Conservator of Forests, were the guests of honour. They jointly released informative postcards featuring details about the 'Big Four' snakes of India — common krait, Indian cobra, Russell's viper, and saw-scaled viper— and the king cobra. Over 300 students from schools and colleges, including BGS National Public School, AMC College, V.V. Puram Law College, Royal Public School, and Orchid International School, enthusiastically participated.
