Cobra around his neck, part-time snake rescuer's hasty mistake costs him his life

Indian Express

2 days ago

Deepak Mahavar spent years rescuing snakes from homes, farms, and schools across Madhya Pradesh's Guna district. On Monday, after rescuing a venomous Indian cobra, Mahavar made the dangerous decision to drape the snake around his neck while he was on his bike.
The cobra bit him, and despite receiving medical treatment, Mahavar died within hours, officials said.
Before his death, the 35-year-old, a part-time worker at JP College and a self-taught snake rescuer, had posed for a video, standing still with the cobra loosely looped around his shoulders.
According to eyewitnesses and hospital staff, Mahavar had gone to Barbatpura village to respond to a rescue call. He successfully captured the cobra and placed it in a glass container. But before he could release the snake in a safe area, as is standard practice, he received a call from his son's school. His 13-year-old son had been dismissed early.
In haste, Mahavar took the snake out of the container and placed it around his neck, presumably to keep it secure as he rushed to school on his motorbike.
Additional Superintendent of Police Man Singh Thakur told The Indian Express, 'The snake rescuer put the snake around his neck and travelled on a bike when he heard his son had been dismissed early from school. The snake bit him on his hand.'
Despite the bite, Mahavar remained conscious long enough to call a friend and seek help. He was admitted to Raghogarh hospital and later referred to Guna District Hospital, where he sought treatment. He was discharged in the evening after showing signs of recovery, but by midnight, his condition had worsened. 'He was brought back to the hospital in critical condition but died before further treatment could begin,' Thakur said.
He leaves behind two sons, aged 14 and 12. Their mother had passed away earlier.
Snakebites are a public health issue in Madhya Pradesh, especially during the monsoon months of June to September. Paddy fields, open drains, and waterlogged areas become breeding grounds for snakes, particularly cobras, kraits, and vipers, wildlife officials said.
According to officials, Madhya Pradesh records hundreds of snakebite cases every year, many of them fatal due to delays in reaching proper medical facilities or incorrect first aid. The state also has all the big four venomous snakes like the common krait, the Indian cobra, the Russell's viper, and the saw-scaled viper.
A 2024 study conducted on MP State government compensation for snake deaths found that more than 5,700 people died of snakebite between 2020 and 2022, and warned that the actual number was likely higher.
Snake rescuing in rural India is often carried out by volunteers or self-taught individuals like Mahavar, who learn through experience and local knowledge rather than formal training. While their services are invaluable, especially in regions with inadequate animal control infrastructure, many lack protective equipment such as snake hooks, gloves, or secure carrying bags.
Guna Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Akshay Rathore told The Indian Express, 'The deceased was not part of the local wildlife team. We have trained our own team in snake rescues. But we are unable to cover all areas, and these private snake rescuers fill the gap. He did not handle the snake properly and did not follow proper protocols. You are not supposed to touch the snake; you should handle them with proper equipment.'