Monsoon alert: Snake sightings surge—how to identify which ones are dangerous

Time of India

14-07-2025

With the monsoon season in full swing in India, several regions have seen increased snake sightings. Both in rural and urban areas. Heavy rains now frequently overtake the habitat of snakes, forcing them out of their hiding places and out into the open, in the proximity of human settlements.
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In such a situation, being able to tell venomous snakes from non-venomous ones can prove to be a matter of life and death.
Why do snakes emerge during and after monsoon rains?
It is believed that when it rains, the temperature and humidity increase, and the snakes become active. The rains, at times, cause small floods, and due to them, snakes are forced out of their burrows. For safety purposes, you must be on your guard and try to take care so that there is less chance of a snake entering your home.
Be careful! Don't miss out on anything! If rodents nest near your house, then it will invite snakes, as along with all the filth accumulated by heavy rainfall, the population of snakes multiplies in human dwellings.
What precautions should we take?
Secure your house: Seal all the doors and crevices. Check for any cracks in walls, window cracks, and door cracks.
Keep your garden clean:
Keep your garden spotless by regularly cleaning the lawn walls and removing weeds from flowers.
The snakes prefer hiding in abundant areas, so a clean garden can reduce encounters with them.
Apply repellents:
Some natural repellents can keep the snakes away from your house. Chemicals like phenyl or bleach repel the snakes.
Be cautious while taking out trash:
While taking out trash or gardening, be cautious, as snakes can hide in leaves or wood piles. Wear gloves at all times to keep safe from fatal snake bites.
The four most common snakes in India during the monsoon
Indian cobra
Indian cobras are distinguished by their typical appearance, their fabled hood, and spectacle-like markings.
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Mainly spotted in open fields, gardens, and human settlements. They are highly venomous. Some of the common symptoms are: Dull vision, breathlessness, and even paralysis.
Russell's viper
Most frequently found in grasslands, agricultural lands, and dry regions. They have dark brown oval patches on the back with a stout body. Their venom acts upon blood and tissue, which is usually followed by swelling, bleeding, vomiting, and even renal failure.
Common krait
Shiny black-bluish body with white bands, mostly nocturnal, and found in dark places near houses, this viper is highly venomous. Their bites can cause fatal issues such as paralysis and respiratory system failure, first with mild pain and then paralysis.
Saw-scaled viper
These are small, deadly snakes. Found mainly in sandy areas, desert regions, and scrub jungles. Symptoms of the bite are excessive pain, hemorrhage, and even tissue necrosis
How to distinguish between a venomous and non-venomous snake?
Venomous snakes tend to have long, hollow, or grooved fangs that are meant to pierce and inject poison into the victim; their bites tend to leave two penetrating puncture wounds. They possess a triangular or arrowhead-shaped head with slit pupils. Non-venomous snakes, however, lack the fangs for venom injection; they have tiny rows of teeth, their head is generally round, and their pupil are also round.
What to do if you are bitten by a snake?