Man Bites Snake to Death in Act of Retaliation1 min read

Santosh Lohar, a 35-year-old from Panduka, Kharkhand, India, found himself under attack by a snake while sleeping.

Reacting swiftly, he grabbed an iron rod and bit the snake twice—an unusual tactic believed in his village to neutralize the snake’s venom.

The incident occurred at a base camp where Lohar was part of a team laying railway lines in a forested area. When questioned about his unconventional response, Lohar explained to India Today, “In my village, there’s a belief that if a snake bites you, you must bite it back twice to neutralize the venom.”

While biting a venomous snake can be life-threatening due to the possibility of venom entering the bloodstream, in this case, Lohar’s action posed minimal risk. Snake venom typically remains harmless unless injected directly into the bloodstream, as it is primarily a protein-like substance stored in the snake’s glands.

Following the incident, Lohar was rushed to a nearby hospital where he received anti-venom treatment. He was discharged the next day.

The specific species of snake involved in the attack was not confirmed. Bihar, where the railway construction was taking place, is among the top three states in India for snakebite incidents, accounting for approximately 4,500 deaths annually.

India hosts nearly 300 species of snakes, with over 60 of them considered highly venomous, including the Indian Cobra, Russell’s viper, common krait, and saw-scaled viper, collectively known as the “Big Four” due to their potent venom and high incidence of bites.