A 35-year-old Indian railway worker named Santosh Lohar was bitten by a venomous snake, suspected to be a cobra, while working in a forested area in Bihar's Nawada district.
Driven by a local belief that biting the snake back could neutralize the venom, Lohar grabbed the snake and bit it multiple times, killing it.
Lohar's colleagues rushed him to the hospital, where he received antivenom treatment and was discharged the following day, recovering well.
India is home to highly venomous snake species, with Russell's viper responsible for a significant proportion of snakebite incidents.
Snakebites in India are a significant concern. A 2020 study reported 1.2 million snakebite deaths in the country over a period of 20 years, between 2000 and 2019. Timely access to antivenoms is crucial in preventing fatalities.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Newsweek, Indian Express, Economic Times, Republic World, Times of India, OneIndia, Daily Pakistan, Geo TV, Samaa TV, News24 Online, Outdoors