A snakebite became a life-threatening emergency in eastern India when a watchman from Odisha's Mayurbhanj district biked to a hospital — with the dead snake that bit him in a polythene bag — after he was bitten on the leg while on duty.
The victim, Mochiram Tudu, was bitten during his shift and was later moved to a hospital in Baripada after his condition became complicated, according to the Hindustan Times.
Here's what to know
The bite happened around 8 p.m. on Sept. 4, while Tudu was working at the office of the assistant engineer for a lift irrigation project in Ward No. 10 of Udala town.
He did not initially understand that the snake was a common krait and could not identify it at first. After realizing how serious the situation was, he caught the snake, killed it, placed it in a polythene bag, and then cycled to Udala Sub-Divisional Hospital.
At the hospital, doctors recognized the snake as a common krait and began treating him.
Tudu's health declined, and doctors transferred him to PRM Medical College and Hospital in Baripada, where he remained under observation at the time of reporting.
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"His treatment was started immediately, but his condition deteriorated during the night," said Dr. D. Jena, in-charge additional district medical officer at the Udala Sub-Divisional Hospital.
In Odisha, snakebites are the second-biggest cause of disaster-related death, behind only drowning.
The state recorded 1,150 snakebite deaths from 2023 to 2024 and 709 fatalities from 2024 to 2025, with coastal and northeastern districts among the hardest hit.
What's being done?
To bring down the rate of snakebite deaths, the Odisha government is preparing village-level awareness drives.
It is looking at housing and sanitation improvements to make areas less attractive to snakes and rodents.
Officials also want more people who are outside at night to use protection, such as gumboots and torches, while frontline workers — including ASHA and anganwadi workers, nurses, and teachers — would be trained to spot snakebites early and provide an initial response.
On the medical side, the state plans to improve doctors' ability to administer anti-snake venom, set up snake rescue teams at the district and block levels, and maintain uninterrupted anti-snake venom supplies at primary and community health centers.
Where can I learn more?
Snake encounters like this one can escalate quickly, from bites that send people to the hospital to venomous snakes turning up inside homes. These articles look at hospital scares after bites, rising snakebite risks, and a child's dramatic collapse after contact with a cobra.
• In India, a snake in a washing machine bit two people and later caused a hospital panic.
• Across India, rising temperatures are driving more dangerous snakebite encounters and worsening public health risks.
• In Bihar, a toddler bit a cobra he mistook for a toy before collapsing.
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