INDIA, July 27: In a remarkable and unusual event, a one-year-old boy in Bihar’s West Champaran district bit a cobra, killing the snake instantly.

The toddler, named Govinda, mistook the two-foot-long cobra for a toy while playing inside his home in Mohachchhi Bankatwa village, located in the Majhaulia block.

According to reports, the cobra had entered the house on Friday afternoon. Govinda’s grandmother noticed the snake near the child but before she could react, the boy bit the cobra, tearing it into two halves. While the snake died immediately, Govinda lost consciousness shortly afterward.

The boy was rushed to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Majhauliya for initial treatment and was then transferred to the Government Medical College for further care. Hospital officials confirmed that Govinda showed no signs of venom poisoning and is currently stable under close medical observation.

Govinda’s grandmother explained that his mother was away collecting firewood when the snake entered the house. It is believed the child’s reaction was instinctive, grabbing and biting the snake. Villagers described his actions as a reflex, possibly triggered by fear or agitation due to the snake’s close proximity.

Cobras are among the deadliest snakes in India, responsible for many fatalities during the monsoon season. Wildlife experts told Hindustan Times that the recent increase in snake encounters is linked to heavy rains and unplanned urban development, which have forced snakes out of their natural habitats and into residential areas. Similar cases have been reported across India, including the rescue of 85 snakes in Gurugram in July.