Govinda Kumar, a 2-year-old boy in Bankatwa village, Bettiah, West Champaran district of Bihar, India, has survived a startling encounter after biting a cobra to death. The snake reportedly slithered close to him while he was playing near his home.
Local reports say the cobra coiled around Govinda’s hands, causing him to instinctively bite the snake’s head with his teeth. The boy bit so hard the snake was “ripped in two.” His grandmother, Mateshwari Devi, recounted that when she came running, Govinda had the snake’s head in his mouth. She and others separated the cobra from his hands and mouth.
After the encounter Govinda lost consciousness. He was rushed to hospital. Medical staff checked him for venom exposure. Though his mouth and face were swollen from reaction in the oral cavity, he showed no systemic signs of poisoning. He was kept under observation and discharged once stable.
The case drew comparisons to the myth of Krishna and the serpent Kaliya in local commentary. Authorities say such incidents are rare. Doctors cautioned about handling snakes, noting that even a child’s reaction might not prevent serious harm.
