A woman in Central India survived after a snake bit her five times in about two minutes while she was sweeping inside her home.
The event underscores how a routine task can quickly become a medical emergency as people and wildlife come into closer contact.
What happened?
Radhabai Ahirwar, who lives in Jheel Pipariya village in Madhya Pradesh's Narmadapuram district, was sweeping her kitchen around 12:30 p.m. July 13 when she spotted a black snake nearly five feet long hidden among utensils in a cupboard.
She had no chance to get away before it bit her on the right palm, and as she tried to shake it off, it struck several more times, according to The Times of India.
Doctors said her family lost critical time by going to a faith healer first instead of directly to a hospital, the Times reported. Even with that delay, Ahirwar survived after roughly 24 hours of treatment that included 35 life-saving injections.
Repeated snakebites may increase the amount of venom involved, and delays can make treatment more difficult.
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Why does it matter?
Snakebites remain a major health threat in many rural communities, where long distances to hospitals, treatment delays, and reliance on traditional remedies can all raise the risk of severe injury or death.
Such encounters can become more common when animals lose habitat, search for food or shelter near homes, or wind up living in spaces shaped by human activity. Wild animal attacks are often tied to the ways people and creatures are pushed into closer contact.
Snakes may hide in kitchens; cupboards; storage areas; and other dark, enclosed spaces.
What's being done?
In Ahirwar's case, the care she received at the hospital saved her life. The number of injections also shows how intensive treatment can be in severe snakebite cases.
To protect yourself, check dark corners and storage spaces carefully, avoid reaching blindly into cupboards or piles of utensils, and use tools or lights when cleaning enclosed areas. Keeping homes and nearby spaces uncluttered can also reduce potential hiding spots for snakes.
If a bite does occur, the most important step is to get to a hospital immediately.
Communities can also benefit from more public awareness around snake safety, emergency response, and when to call a trained wildlife rescuer instead of trying to deal with an animal alone.
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