One-Year-Old Boy in India Bites Cobra to Death, Survives Venomous Attack

A one-year-old boy in Bettiah, a town in the northern Indian state of Bihar near the Nepal border, reportedly bit a cobra to death after it coiled around his hand while he was playing. The child, identified as Govinda, was holding the snake when family members noticed and rushed to help. Before they could intervene, Govinda had already bitten the snake, killing it instantly. He then fainted and was taken to a nearby primary health care center and later referred to the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah.

Doctors said the venom had only a mild effect, and Govinda was unconscious for a short time. He is now in stable condition and remains under observation. Medical staff are prepared to treat him for poisoning if any symptoms appear, although none have yet developed. His family and doctors credited quick medical attention for saving his life.

India is home to nearly 300 species of snakes, including 60 that are highly venomous. The cobra is one of the country’s “big four” snakes responsible for most of the nation’s snakebite deaths. Although snakebites are sadly common in rural India, especially during monsoon season, it is extremely rare for a child to survive such an encounter—let alone kill the snake in self-defense. Over one million people in India died from snakebites between 2000 and 2019, with Bihar among the states most affected. Govinda's recovery is being closely watched, but doctors expect him to be fine.