In a startling and unusual event in Bihar, India, a 2-year-old boy named Govinda Kumar reportedly bit a venomous cobra to death, leaving both his family and medical professionals astonished.
The extraordinary encounter took place in Bankatwa village while the toddler was playing near his home. A three-foot-long cobra approached him and, in a terrifying moment, wrapped itself around his tiny hand, posing a lethal threat.
According to eyewitnesses, including his grandmother, Mateshwari Devi, rather than panicking or crying for help, Govinda reacted instinctively and bit the cobra on its head, fatally injuring it. “He grabbed the cobra and bit its head,” Devi recalled. “We saw the snake coiled around his hand, and he had the snake’s head in his mouth. We immediately separated them.”
Shortly after the incident, the child lost consciousness, believed to be due to venom exposure through his mouth. His family rushed him to a nearby health center, after which he was referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah for urgent care.
At GMCH, Dr. Saurab Kumar, a pediatrician, called the situation “highly unusual” and said it was the first case he had seen where a child had survived after biting a venomous snake. “His face and mouth were swollen, which indicated a reaction to the venom in his mouth,” Dr. Kumar explained. “Thankfully, the venom didn’t enter his bloodstream, which could have been fatal.”
Doctors at GMCH administered anti-allergy medications and kept Govinda under observation for 48 hours. Fortunately, he showed no further symptoms and was declared out of danger. He was later discharged and is now recovering at home with his family.
Medical experts explained that cobra venom is primarily dangerous when injected into the bloodstream through a bite. In Govinda’s case, the venom likely passed through his digestive system, which allowed doctors to manage the reaction effectively. His survival is considered a rare exception.
The snake, on the other hand, reportedly died instantly from the trauma inflicted by the child’s bite. The story has since spread throughout the region, leaving villagers, doctors, and media in awe of the boy's fearless reaction and miraculous recovery.
Govinda’s family says they are still in shock but deeply grateful that he survived such a deadly encounter. Meanwhile, the bizarre incident continues to baffle both the local community and medical professionals, marking it as one of the most incredible survival stories ever reported from rural India.