A man in India bit back at a venomous snake that killed it on the spot after attacking him.
Santosh Lohar, a 35-year-old railway worker, was working in a forest near the city of Nawada in Bihar, India, when the accident occurred on the evening of July 2. As Lohar was sleeping, the snake suddenly attacked him. Lohar reacted extremely quickly by grabbing the snake, biting it twice and killing it, according to Newsweek.
In some parts of India, there is a superstition that biting a snake transfers the venom back into its body. “In my village, people believe that if you get bitten by a snake, you have to bite it twice to neutralize the venom,” Lohar said. Authorities have not confirmed what species of snake was involved in the attack. After the incident, Lohar was taken to the hospital by a colleague. He stayed overnight, recovered well after receiving antivenom, and was discharged the next day.
India is home to a diverse range of snake species, including several highly venomous ones. Some of the most dangerous snakes in the country include the Indian cobra, common krait, Russell’s viper, and saw-scaled viper. These four are sometimes referred to as the “Big Four” because of their potent venom and high rate of human injuries from snakebites. India also has cobras and banded kraits. According to a 2020 study, Russell’s vipers alone accounted for 43% of snakebites in India between 2000 and 2019, followed by kraits at 18% and cobras at 12%. Agricultural workers, rural residents, and those living near snake habitats are at higher risk of being bitten by venomous snakes.
According to the same study, there were 1.2 million deaths from snakebites between 2000 and 2019 (an average of 58,000 cases/year). Approximately 1.11 – 1.17 million snakebites occur annually, and 70% are envenomated. The venom of these snakes often contains neurotoxins that cause symptoms such as blurred vision, swollen eyelids, difficulty breathing, and hemotoxins that cause blood clotting disorders, leading to pain, swelling, bruising, and bleeding. The research team emphasized that most deaths and serious consequences from venomous snakebites can be avoided if effective antivenom is promptly administered.