In Rajauli, Nawada, Bihar, a peculiar incident occurred involving a 35-year-old laborer named Santosh Lohar, who was working on a railway line project. While sleeping at his base camp, Santosh was bitten by a venomous snake. Instead of panicking, he adhered to a local belief that one must bite back a snake twice to neutralize its venom. Acting on this superstition, Santosh grabbed the snake with an iron rod and bit it twice, fiercely enough to kill it.
Santosh was soon rushed to a nearby hospital by railway officials, where he received prompt medical attention. Dr. Satish Chandra, the physician treating him, confirmed that Santosh is now recovering and out of danger. The news of this bizarre retaliation quickly spread, drawing a crowd eager to see Santosh and hear his story. Some locals speculated that the snake might not have been venomous, as a venomous bite could have posed a severe threat to Santosh’s life.
The type of snake involved in the attack was not identified, but Bihar is known to be one of the top three Indian states with the highest number of snakebite incidents, contributing to roughly 4,500 annual deaths. India hosts nearly 300 snake species, with over 60 being highly venomous, including the Indian cobra, Russell’s viper, common krait, and saw-scaled viper, often referred to as the “big four” due to their potent venom and the frequency of bites. Venom from these snakes contains neurotoxins that can cause severe symptoms such as blurred vision, difficulty breathing, pain, swelling, and even death if not treated promptly.
Medical professionals advise immediate medical assistance for any snakebite, emphasizing the importance of removing rings and watches before swelling begins and attempting to identify the snake species to aid treatment. They also suggest to safely take a photo of the reptile so the doctors can identify it’s breed for treatment.
