Due to the sheer number of venomous snakes, and the fact that many live near humans, India has the highest snake bite mortality rate in the world: snake bites cause, on average, between 50,000 and 58,000 deaths per year, and one in 250 Indians will die from a snake bite before reaching the age of 70.
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Four species cause almost 90% of these fatal bites.
Because of climate change, the distribution of venomous snakes in India is changing. Scientists think this may result in snakes and humans encountering one another more and more often, which could lead to even more fatalities. The chemical composition of snake venom also changes with the climate, meaning that some species could become more venomous as temperature and rainfall patterns shift.
In the list below, we explore six of the deadliest snakes in India. We start with a snake who can blind with its spit, before moving onto a snake who growls like a dog before biting, a snake who’s dubbed ‘the silent killer’ as it often quietly kills people in their sleep, and a snake who is famous not just for its potent venom but also its defensiveness – a deadly mix.
But it is worth noting, before we dive in, that these snakes really would rather not bite a human. None of them prey on people, and bites are always defensive; these species only strike if they feel threatened. Unfortunately, this can have some pretty nasty consequences for humans…
6 deadliest snakes in India
Monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia)
Native to the grasslands, shrublands and forests of south-eastern Asia, including northeast India, the monocled cobra has two defensive tricks up its sleeve: a bite that can kill, and spit that can blind.
When injected via a bite, the snake’s venom, comprised of toxins that impact the victim’s nervous system, cells and heart, can kill in an hour.
Symptoms typically start one to four hours after the bite, and include severe swelling at the bite site, tissue breakdown, and a lot of pain. Soon afterwards, the victim may become dizzy, drowsy and complain of a metallic taste in their mouth. Difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and drooling may follow, and then respiratory and cardiac failure.
Thankfully, with prompt medical intervention, most monocled cobra bite victims survive.
But venom can find its way into your body not only through the snake’s fangs. When threatened, some subpopulations of monocled cobras have evolved to spit their venom directly into the eyes of the threat. Their aim is incredibly accurate, even from six feet away. If this venom gets into your eyes, it leads to extreme pain, temporary blindness, and, in some cases, permanent blindness.
Interestingly, the venom of spitting monocled cobras is slightly different to the venom of those who do not spit. The spitters’ venom is chemically formulated to cause maximum eye damage.
While the monocled cobra is not responsible for the most snake bite deaths in India (in fact it is only responsible for a very small proportion), it is an incredibly dangerous snake. Indeed, it is frequently cited as the species that kills the most people in Thailand – showing just how deadly it can be.
King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
The world’s longest venomous snake - growing to an incredible 5.85 metres long – the king cobra is also one of the most famous snakes in India. A specialised snake-eater, it is a timid and reclusive species. That is, until its nest site is under threat.
Not only are they the longest venomous snake, but king cobras are also the world’s only nest-building snake. In spring, females gather leaves and twigs to create a large mound which, in its centre, generates heat. This heat incubates the eggs.
If anyone comes near the nest site during the 75 – 100-day incubation period, they may be in trouble. The mother is likely to rear up, flare her hood and hiss. The hiss is low, and many people describe it as a growl. At this point, it would be wise to step back as quickly as possible, because these cobras can launch themselves a surprising distance when they strike.
A king cobra bite is a medical emergency. If untreated, death may occur within 30 minutes. At first the wound will swell, and then the nervous system will feel the impact of the venom: the victim’s vision may begin to blur, they may experience vertigo and become drowsy. Paralysis could follow, which leads to suffocation and death.
If medical intervention occurs soon after the bite, survival chances are high – over 90%. But if left untreated, the chances of surviving are only about 40%.
Sindh saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus)
Responsible for around 5000 deaths per year in India alone, the Sindh saw-scaled viper is one of India’s Big Four – the group of species that accounts for around 90% of snake bite fatalities in India.
The smallest of India’s Big Four, these snakes grow up to only 90cm long. They are mainly active at dawn, dusk, and during the nighttime, and spend most of the daytime hours hiding in cracks between rocks, in burrows, or under logs. If in a sandy environment, they may bury themselves in sand with only their head showing.
Unfortunately, they tend to live in very populated areas and farmland, meaning they regularly come into contact with people, and are famous for their defensive tendencies. They do not hold back when they feel under threat; instead, they draw their body into tight coils and rub the coils against one another, thus creating a rasping, sizzling hiss, before striking.
In one strike, this species can inject multiple times the amount of venom needed to kill an adult human. Without prompt medical treatment, death via blood loss and acute kidney injury often follows within days. But the good news is that over 90% of victims who receive prompt medical care will survive.
Without treatment, there is a 20% risk of death.
Indian cobra (Naja naja)
Responsible for between 3,000 and 15,000 deaths per year in India, the Indian cobra is another of the Big Four. It lives in a range of habitats, including forests, wetlands and agricultural lands, and – as it hunts rodents – it is often found in the outskirts of towns and villages, too.
While the king cobra has more venom overall, the Indian cobra’s venom is a lot more potent. The Indian cobra is also much more defensive than its cousin.
If bitten by an Indian cobra, severe pain and swelling will immediately begin. This will be followed by nervous system symptoms, such as a headache, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness, inability to open the mouth, restlessness, confusion, and then, after a few hours, respiratory paralysis. This is fatal.
The chance of surviving an Indian cobra bite, if given prompt medical treatment, is over 90%. If untreated, risk of death is around 30%.
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus)
Responsible for about 10,000 deaths in India per year, the common krait is one of the Big Four and has been dubbed the ‘silent killer’. It is a timid, nocturnal species, which grows to around four-foot-long and preys on other reptiles, small mammals, birds and frogs. It is typically found near water, and likes to inhabit grasslands and agricultural areas.
While it flees from humans when it can, the common krait will bite to defend itself. Their bite causes no pain at all, and does not lead to much bleeding or swelling. Sometimes, the bite isn’t even visible. This means that, if bitten while asleep (which is when a large number of krait bites occur), a person may not even notice they’ve been bitten.
On the other hand, victims may know they have been bitten but misunderstand the implications – the fact the bite is painless is thought to provide victims with false reassurance about its severity, and can delay the seeking of care.
Usually, the first symptoms of a common krait bite are tight facial muscles and an inability to talk. Following these symptoms come severe abdominal cramps, vomiting, and shortness of breath. After this, paralysis may follow, and four to eight hours from the time of the bite, the victim may suffocate.
If untreated, 80% of common krait victims will die. With antivenom, most people will make a full recovery.
Russel’s viper (Daboia russelii)
Russel’s viper, the deadliest of the Big Four, is responsible for between 15,000 to 25,000 deaths per year in India. With one of the most excruciatingly painful bites of any snake, this is a snake you would know you’ve been bitten by.
The species grows to a maximum length of around 160cm, and is found in a large range of habitats but tends to avoid dense forests. It is often found in villages, towns and cities because it preys on rodents.
Renowned for its lazy disposition, Russell’s vipers tend to be slow-moving unless they feel threatened, in which case they have no qualms striking in a lightning-quick attack. Sometimes, the strike is so forceful that the snake launches itself into the air. But they will often give warning before a strike, with a hiss said to sound a bit like a pressure cooker.
The venom of these snakes causes immediate and horrendous pain at the bite site, followed by swelling. The victim's gums may bleed, and urine may have blood in it too. Vomiting and facial swelling may follow, and in about one in four untreated bite victims, the kidneys start to fail. Death most often occurs due to kidney failure, internal haemorrhage or respiratory collapse.
With medical intervention, over 90% of victims will survive. Without treatment, the chance of death is over 30%. But even with medical intervention, there are long-lasting impacts of a Russel’s viper bite: around 30% of those who survive end up with severe damage to some brain regions. This is certainly a snake to appreciate only from a safe distance!
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