Study confirms first Caspian cobra bite deaths in India; antivenom gap flagged
Researchers have documented the first confirmed human deaths in India caused by the Caspian cobra (Naja oxiana), also known as the Central Asian cobra, according to a case report published in Epidemiology International, a peer-reviewed journal. The report, titled 'First Report of Deadly Bites by Caspian Cobra (Naja oxiana) From India', describes two fatalities and two survivors from bites by the species in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district, in the Pir Panjal mountain range.
The study was led by Omesh Kumar Bharti of the Himachal Pradesh Directorate of Health Services, along with colleagues Menon J.C., Phull A., Joy S., Sharma V. and Malhotra A. Bharti said the cases came to light while collecting data for an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) project on snakebites. 'Envenomation and subsequent deaths from the Caspian Cobra (Naja oxiana) have never previously been reported from India,' Bharti said. 'While collecting data for the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) project on snakebites, we came across two deaths due to the bite of N. oxiana.'
According to the study, N. oxiana is primarily found in Central Asia, where it causes high human mortality from envenoming. The species has been reported in Pakistan and Kashmir, and was recorded in 2019 from Tissa block of Chamba district. The researchers noted that N. oxiana has rapidly expanded its range from Iran towards the northeast, and local rescuers have observed it slowly expanding in Chamba towards lower elevations.
The first death in the report occurred in July 2020 in Ullansa village. A 40-year-old man was bitten twice on the leg while spraying an apple orchard. He was taken to a nearby faith healer, but his condition continued to worsen. On the third day after the bite, he was taken to Civil Hospital Bharmour, where the doctor found no detectable pulse.
The second victim, a 62-year-old man from Bhanjraru village, was bitten in July 2021 while walking to work. He collapsed within half an hour and died before reaching Civil Hospital Tissa. A post-mortem attributed the death to the venom’s neurotoxic effects, the study said.
Snakebite envenoming remains a major cause of preventable mortality in rural India. The 'big four' species—the spectacled cobra (Naja naja), Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii), common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) and saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus)—are responsible for most snakebite envenomation and deaths in the country. The commercially available anti-snake venom (ASV) is designed to cover these species only.
The study noted that the available ASV does not effectively neutralise the venom components of N. oxiana. This means bites from the Caspian cobra may not respond adequately to the standard treatment used for the big four species.
The researchers said there is a need to create greater community awareness about the danger of this species in affected areas and to educate residents about ways to reduce the risk of being bitten. The report also documents two survivors of bites by the species, though further details were not provided in the summary of the study.
The findings add to concerns about snakebite management in India, where snakebite envenoming is already a major cause of preventable mortality in rural areas. The case report calls attention to the importance of identifying which species are present in an area and ensuring that treatment protocols reflect local risks.
The researchers said greater community awareness is needed about the danger of this species in affected areas, along with education on ways to reduce the risk of being bitten. The documented deaths, they note, underscore the need for accurate data and appropriate care for snakebite victims.
