Odisha watchman bitten by krait, cycles to hospital with snake in bag; critical

After a common krait bit him on the leg, Odisha watchman Mochiram Tudu cycled to a hospital carrying the dead snake in a polythene bag. He was on duty at the office of the assistant engineer of a lift irrigation project in Udala when the incident happened at about 8 p.m. on Friday.

Tudu initially did not realise that the snake was a common krait and could not identify it. Once he understood the seriousness of the bite, he caught and killed the snake, packed it in the bag and took it to Udala Sub-Divisional Hospital.

Doctors identified the reptile and began treating him immediately. His condition deteriorated later that night, so they referred him to PRM Medical College and Hospital in Baripada. “His treatment was started immediately, but his condition deteriorated during the night,” said Dr D. Jena, the hospital’s in-charge additional district medical officer. Tudu remains under observation.

Snakebite ranks among Odisha’s major disaster-related causes of death, second only to drowning. The state recorded 1,150 snakebite deaths in 2023-24 and 709 in 2024-25. The government plans village awareness campaigns, improved housing and sanitation, and protective equipment such as gumboots and torches for people outdoors at night.

Officials also plan to train frontline workers in early recognition and first response, improve doctors’ ability to administer antivenom, establish snake rescue teams and maintain uninterrupted antivenom supplies. Dedicated treatment centres in high-risk districts and round-the-clock emergency transport are also proposed.

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His treatment was started immediately, but his condition deteriorated during the night.