One-year-old child bites snake to death in Bihar after mistaking it for toy, escapes unharmed

Medical staff at the health centre examined the child and confirmed that he was physically unharmed. (Image: X)

A one-year-old child in Bihar's Gaya district made headlines after reportedly biting a snake to death. The incident, which has drawn considerable attention, occurred while the toddler was playing on the terrace of his home. Mistaking the snake for a toy, the child picked it up and allegedly bit the reptile, resulting in the snake’s death. The boy, however, was unharmed, much to the astonishment of both his family and medical professionals.

According to the child's mother, who spoke to local media, the boy was unaware of the danger and believed the snake was a plaything. The family discovered the dead snake near the child and immediately rushed him to the local community health centre, as per a Live Hindustan report.

A video circulating on social media showed the child in the arms of a woman, while a man attempted to gently open the boy’s mouth. The man held up a phone displaying an image of the snake, with part of its body appearing to have been crushed.

Boy from Bihar bites snake to death. Doctors declare him safe. Snake association demands justice. pic.twitter.com/6xjErC7f5H

— Dr. Ajayita (@DoctorAjayita) August 21, 2024

Medical staff at the health centre examined the child and confirmed that he was physically unharmed. They explained that the snake was non-venomous and is commonly found in the region during the monsoon season. The family expressed relief after learning that the child was out of danger.

This incident comes just over a month after another unusual encounter between a human and a snake in Bihar. In July, a man from Rajauli was bitten by a snake while he was asleep. In a desperate attempt to counteract the venom, the man bit the snake back, adhering to a local belief that this would neutralise the poison. The snake died, and the man was rushed to a hospital, where he received treatment and survived.