Two-year-old boy in Bihar bites cobra to death: Report

Witnesses recounted that the curious toddler initially spotted the cobra and, seemingly unaware of its danger, playfully threw a piece of brick at it. (File photo)

A two-year-old boy in Bihar reportedly bit a cobra to death after the venomous snake coiled itself around his hands. The child, though rendered unconscious by the venom, survived the ordeal due to swift medical attention and is now stable, the Times of India reported.

The incident unfolded on Friday afternoon in Bankatwa village, under Majhaulia block, as the child, Govinda Kumar, was playing near his home. Witnesses recounted that the curious toddler initially spotted the cobra and, seemingly unaware of its danger, playfully threw a piece of brick at it. The snake retaliated, tightly coiling around Govinda’s tiny hands. But, instead of screaming, the little boy astonishingly sank his teeth into the snake, biting it so forcefully that it died instantly.

"When we saw the snake in the child's hand, everyone rushed towards him, but in the meantime, he already bit the snake, killing it on the spot," recalled Govinda's grandmother, Mateshwari Devi.

The impact of the snakebite caused Govinda to immediately faint. He was promptly rushed to the local primary health centre and then referred to Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Bettiah. Doctors there described the case as "highly unusual," noting that the cobra appeared to have died from trauma inflicted by the child's bite to its head and mouth. Fortunately, the venom's effect on Govinda was relatively mild, enough only to cause unconsciousness rather than being fatal.

"Timely treatment saved Govinda's life," Dr Saurabh Kumar of GMCH told the publication. "The child's condition is currently stable and treatment is being administered under the supervision of doctors. The medical team is treating the child, providing continuous medication, and he is under observation." Govinda continues to be closely monitored at GMCH Bettiah.

Similar incident
A one-year-old child in Bihar's Gaya district made headlines after biting a snake to death last August. The incident 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

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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.