India’s Snakebite Crisis Claims Tens of Thousands of Lives Every Year

Snakebites kill nearly 50,000 people in India every year, accounting for almost half of global snakebite deaths, according to government data. Health experts warn that the actual toll may be even higher, with studies estimating over 1.2 million deaths between 2000 and 2019.

Devendra, a farmer, suffered a life-changing injury after a snake bit him while he was collecting mulberry leaves. He delayed going to a hospital for four days, and doctors later amputated his leg. Although he survived, thousands of others do not. His story features in a short film by the Global Snakebite Taskforce (GST), which works to reduce snakebite-related deaths and disabilities.

Why Snakebites Still Kill in India

A recent GST report reveals that 99% of healthcare workers in India face difficulties administering antivenom, the only effective treatment for snakebite poisoning. The study surveyed medical professionals in India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Nigeria and found common problems such as poor infrastructure, lack of training, and limited antivenom supply.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) classified snakebite envenoming as a highest-priority neglected tropical disease in 2017. WHO estimates that snakes bite 5.4 million people worldwide each year, killing more than 100,000 annually, mostly in poor rural regions of low- and middle-income countries. In India, snakebite deaths mainly affect central and eastern states, particularly among farmers and tribal communities, says Dr Yogesh Jain, a GST member based in Chhattisgarh. He notes that snakebites receive little attention because they largely impact the poor.

Another major challenge is that India’s antivenom only targets the “big four” snakes, while dozens of other venomous species lack effective treatment. A 2024 AIIMS Jodhpur study found that two-thirds of patients bitten by unidentified snakes did not respond well to existing antivenom. Experts urge the government to develop region-specific antivenom and make snakebites a notifiable disease nationwide, as Karnataka did in 2024, to improve reporting and response.

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