With the monsoon season in full swing across India, from the streets of Mumbai to the capital, Delhi, the increased visibility of snakes has become a common public health concern. Snakebite incidents historically surge during these rainy months. Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) concluded an extensive survey on snakebite-related deaths, challenging long-standing assumptions. The study reveals that the actual number of fatalities from snakebites is significantly lower than previous estimates suggested. This research covered 11 states across the country.
Key Findings from the Survey
The study highlights that 43 percent of snakebite-related deaths occur before patients can reach a hospital or while they are in transit. The economic impact is profoundly uneven, as 53 percent of the victims belonged to families living below the poverty line. This confirms that snakebites disproportionately affect the poorest sections of society. According to the data, the death rate is approximately 0.3 per 100,000 population. This figure is considerably lower than earlier projections, which estimated 6 deaths per 100,000 based on the Registrar General of India's 'Million Death Study' conducted between 1998 and 2014.
Methodology and Scope of the Research
The comprehensive report was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications. Researchers collected data continuously for one year across 11 states. ASHA workers were instrumental in identifying snakebite cases, and information was gathered from families who provided consent. While surveys are still underway in Meghalaya and West Bengal, the researchers suggest that earlier estimations vastly inflated the death toll. For instance, in Kerala, which has a population of roughly 3.5 crore, only 31 deaths were recorded from snake venom in 2024-25, whereas previous models predicted the number should have been around 2,100.
National Scope and Geographical Limitations
By extrapolating the results from the studied areas, researchers estimate that there are approximately 120,852 snakebite cases annually across India. However, the researchers acknowledge that this number may be conservative because the study included only 13 out of the 28 states. Densely populated states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh were not part of this specific study, despite traditionally recording some of the highest snakebite death tolls in the country, alongside Andhra Pradesh.
Agricultural Risks and Patterns of Exposure
India accounts for the highest number of snakebite victims worldwide, representing nearly half of all global fatalities. This high incidence is largely attributed to the country's massive agricultural population, where human activity frequently overlaps with snake habitats, leading to inevitable encounters. The 'Big Four' venomous snake species are responsible for the vast majority of envenomation cases in India. During the study, 7,094 snakebite cases were recorded across 25 districts, with a mortality rate of 2.7 percent. Among the fatalities, 57 percent occurred while the patients were undergoing treatment in hospitals. The survey further confirms that the monsoon season remains the period of highest risk for snakebites.
