A two-year-old boy in Bihar has stunned medical professionals after biting a venomous cobra to death when the three-foot reptile coiled around his arm during play. The extraordinary incident highlights India’s ongoing battle with snakebite mortality, which claims approximately 58,000 lives annually across the nation.
Govinda Kumar was playing outside his home in Bankatwa village, in the Majhaulia block of West Champaran district, on Friday afternoon when he encountered the deadly spectacled cobra. The toddler’s remarkable survival has captured national attention as doctors confirm he is now stable after receiving timely medical intervention.
The incident occurred when Govinda spotted the snake near his house and threw a piece of brick at it, according to family members. The cobra retaliated by lunging at the child and wrapping itself tightly around his small hand in what could have been a fatal encounter.
Toddler’s Instinctive Response Stuns Family
In an astonishing turn of events, the boy responded by biting down hard on the reptile’s head, killing it instantly. His grandmother, Mateshwari Devi, who was moving firewood nearby when the incident occurred, described the shocking scene.
“When we saw the snake in the child’s hand, everyone rushed towards him, but in the meantime, he already bit the snake, killing it on the spot,” Devi told local reporters. “We rushed towards the boy and saw he had taken the cobra’s head into his mouth. We then separated the cobra from his mouth and hands.”
The Hindustan Times reported that the child had bitten so forcefully into the snake that it was ripped in two. The cobra died immediately from severe trauma to its head and mouth, while Govinda lost consciousness shortly after the encounter.
Emergency Medical Response Saves Child’s Life
The toddler’s family acted swiftly, rushing him to a local health centre before transferring him to the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah for specialist care. The quick response proved crucial in preventing what could have been another tragic addition to India’s snakebite mortality statistics.
Dr Surab Kumar, associate professor in GMCH Bettiah’s paediatrics department and the medic in charge of treating Govinda, confirmed the unusual nature of the case. “Timely treatment saved Govinda’s life,” he stated. “The child’s condition is currently stable, and treatment is being administered under the supervision of doctors.”
The medical team discovered that while the cobra’s venom did affect Govinda, it was not fatal. The child’s face and mouth were swollen due to the reaction to venom in his oral cavity, but crucially, the venom had not entered his bloodstream.
Medical Team Verifies Unprecedented Case
Dr Kumar revealed the medical team’s initial disbelief at the circumstances. We were surprised and cross-checked with his parents multiple times to ensure the child was not bitten by the cobra to rule out that venom had not gone into his bloodstream,” he told The Telegraph.
The doctor explained that the venom entered Govinda’s digestive tract rather than his bloodstream, which prevented the usual neurotoxic effects associated with cobra bites. “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,” Dr Kumar explained.
Hospital superintendent Duvakant Mishra confirmed that this was a “highly unusual case” for the facility, which typically treats five to six snakebite cases monthly during India’s rainy season. This marked the first instance where a child survived after biting and partially ingesting a venomous snake.
Bihar Among India’s Deadliest Snakebite Hotspots
The incident occurred in Bihar, one of eight Indian states that account for approximately 70% of the nation’s snakebite deaths. According to a comprehensive study published in the journal eLife, India recorded more than one million snakebite deaths between 2000 and 2019, with Bihar experiencing some of the highest mortality rates.
The state’s vulnerability stems from its densely populated agricultural areas at low altitude, where human-snake encounters are frequent, particularly during the monsoon season. The study found that snakebite death rates have risen over time in Bihar, making incidents like Govinda’s both remarkable and significant.
India is home to approximately 300 snake species, with 60 classified as venomous or mildly venomous. The “big four” species – Russell’s viper, common krait, Indian cobra, and saw-scaled viper – are responsible for the majority of fatal bites across the country.
Snakebite Crisis Demands Urgent Action
The World Health Organization estimates that India accounts for almost half of global snakebite deaths, with the risk of dying from snakebite before age 70 standing at approximately 1 in 250 nationally. In high-risk areas like parts of Bihar, this risk increases dramatically to 1 in 100.
Medical experts emphasise that most snakebite deaths are preventable with timely access to antivenom and proper medical care. However, challenges persist, including delays in reaching healthcare facilities, inadequate cold-chain storage for antivenom, and limited availability of region-specific antivenoms.
A 2018 study on snakebite mortality in Bihar found that 34.7% of victims died before treatment could be provided, while only 46.4% of those who received treatment had sought care at a health facility. Many victims initially consult traditional healers, delaying crucial medical intervention.
Child’s Recovery Continues Under Close Observation
Govinda received anti-allergy medication and remained under observation for 48 hours at GMCH Bettiah. Medical staff monitored him closely for any signs of envenomation, prepared to initiate treatment if symptoms developed.
“The medical team is treating the child, providing continuous medication, and he is under observation,” Dr Kumar confirmed. The hospital reported that Govinda showed no further symptoms and was subsequently discharged to continue recovery at home with his family.
The boy’s survival has been attributed to the unique circumstances of venom ingestion through the digestive system rather than injection into the bloodstream, combined with prompt medical attention. Doctors emphasised that cobra venom is primarily dangerous when it enters the circulatory system through a bite.
Addressing India’s Snakebite Emergency
Wildlife experts and medical professionals stress that while Govinda’s survival is extraordinary, the incident underscores the urgent need for improved public awareness and healthcare infrastructure in snake-prone regions. The case highlights both the resilience of rural communities and the critical gaps in snakebite prevention and treatment.
Experts recommend simple preventive measures including using torches at night, wearing protective footwear, and sleeping under mosquito nets in areas with high snake populations. They also advocate for better training of healthcare workers, improved antivenom distribution, and the establishment of snakebite as a notifiable disease to ensure accurate data collection.
As India works towards the WHO goal of halving snakebite deaths by 2030, cases like Govinda’s serve as both cautionary tales and reminders of the ongoing public health challenge facing millions of rural Indians who live alongside venomous snakes.
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