Man Bites Cobra to Death After Stepping on it in Odisha
Experts said there is no scientific basis to the belief that biting a snake can neutralise its venom
Bhubaneswar: A young man reportedly bit a cobra to death after accidentally stepping on the snake in Odisha’s Jharsuguda district, apparently acting on a bizarre belief that biting a snake in return would prevent its venom from harming him.
The incident occurred in the Laikera police station area when Dharamsingh Khadia of Karmapada village was on his way to his field, according to reports.
Khadia said he accidentally stepped on the cobra, which raised its hood and moved towards him. Instead of moving away, he caught hold of the snake and bit its neck, reportedly tearing it with his teeth. The cobra died shortly afterwards.
Khadia later told people that he had been advised by a traditional healer that if a snake bites a person, biting the snake in return would prevent the venom from remaining in the body.
He subsequently felt unwell and was taken by his family to the Govindpur hospital, where doctors examined him and found his condition to be stable. He was kept under observation for 24 hours as a precaution.
Snakebite expert and Snake Helpline honorary secretary Suvendu Mallik said no snakebite marks were found on Khadia’s body.
“The man bit the snake’s neck, not its head. We need to examine the facts carefully,” Mallik said, adding that any advice to bite a snake after an attack was “completely false and extremely dangerous”.
He also called for action against traditional healers who promote such practices, saying that such beliefs can put people's lives at risk.
Dr Satyaprakash Dora of the Sub-Divisional Hospital, Kuchinda, said Khadia was fortunate that the snake did not bite him.
“He has done a wrong thing. You should not bite a cobra,” Dora said.
Experts said there is no scientific basis to the belief that biting a snake can neutralise its venom. Snake venom does not become harmless merely because a person bites the snake, and attempting to catch or kill a snake can increase the risk of being bitten.
“A suspected snakebite should be treated as a medical emergency, and the victim should seek immediate medical attention rather than relying on traditional remedies or attempting to handle the snake,” said Dr Ashok Acharya, Director of Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar.
