Deepak Mahawar spent years to save snakes from houses, fields and schools across Guna district of Madhya Pradesh. On Monday, after saving a toxic Indian cobra, Mahawar made a dangerous decision to surround the snake around his neck while being on his bike.
Officials said the cobra bites him and despite receiving medical treatment, Mahawar died within hours.
Prior to his death, 35-year-old, a part-time worker at JP College and a self-centered snake rescue, posed for a video, who was still stood with the cobra and looped around his shoulders.
According to eyewitnesses and hospital staff, Mahawar went to Barbatpura village to respond to a rescue call. He successfully caught the cobra and placed it in a glass container. But before he could leave the snake in a safe area, as is the standard practice, he received a call from his son’s school. His 13 -year -old son was rejected quickly.
In a hurry, Mahawar took the snake out of the container and placed it around his neck, possibly to keep it safe because he took him to school on his motorcycle.
Additional Superintendent of Police Man Singh Thakur told The Indian Express, “The snake’s rescueer put the snake around his neck and traveled on a bike when he heard that his son was rejected from school early. The snake bites him on his hand.”
Despite the bite, Mahawar was a long -alert to call a friend and seek help. He was admitted to Raghogar Hospital and later sent to Guna District Hospital, where he sought treatment. After showing signs of recovery, he was discharged in the evening, but by midnight, his condition deteriorated. Thakur said, “He was brought back to the hospital in critical condition, but died before the further treatment started.”
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He overtakes two sons aged 14 and 12. His mother had already died.
Surpatistall is a public health issue in Madhya Pradesh, especially during the monsoon months of June to September. Wildlife officials said that areas with paddy fields, open drains and waterfalls become breeding basis for snakes, especially cobras, crats and wipers.
According to officials, hundreds of snake cases have been recorded every year in Madhya Pradesh, many of them are fatal due to proper medical facilities or delays in reaching the wrong first aid. The state also consists of all the big four toxic snakes like Common Crite, Indian Cobra, Russell’s wiper and Ara-Skele Viper.
A 2024 study conducted on compensation from the MP state government for snake deaths found that more than 5,700 people died between 2020 and 2022, and warned that the actual number was likely to be more.
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Snake rescue in rural India is often performed by volunteers or self-affected individuals, who learn through experience and local knowledge rather than formal training. While their services are invaluable, especially in inadequate animal control infrastructure areas, many deficiency protective equipment such as snake hooks, gloves, or safe carrying bags.
Guna Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Akshay Rathore told The Indian Express, “The deceased was not a part of the local wildlife team. We have trained our team to defense the snake. But we are unable to cover all areas, and these private snakes did not handle the gap properly.
Protocol (T) Prevention of Snake (T) Indian Express
