An eight-year-old boy in India bit a cobra to death after the snake attacked him while he was playing in his backyard. The incident occurred on Monday in Pandarpadh village, located in the Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh state.
The boy, identified only as Deepak, told local media that the cobra wrapped itself around his hand and bit him. 'I was in great pain. As the reptile didn't budge when I tried to shake it off, I bit it hard twice. It all happened in a flash,' he said.
Deepak's family rushed him to a medical centre, where he was treated with anti-snake venom and kept under observation for the day before being discharged. Dr Jems Minj, the medical officer, confirmed that the boy received the necessary treatment.
Snake experts suggested that Deepak likely suffered a dry bite, meaning the cobra did not release venom. The snake later died from injuries sustained from the boy's bite.
India is home to 300 snake species, including 60 highly venomous ones. According to a 2020 report by eLife, India recorded 1.2 million snake bite deaths from 2000 to 2019, with Russell's vipers, kraits, and cobras responsible for most fatalities.
