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Researchers have documented the first reported human deaths in India caused by bites from the Caspian cobra (Naja oxiana), also known as the Central Asian cobra. The cases occurred in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh in 2020 and 2021 and were documented in a peer-reviewed case report published in Epidemiology International.
The study records two fatalities and two survivors following Caspian cobra bites in the Chamba region. The species is primarily associated with Central Asia and has also been reported in Pakistan and Kashmir. It was genetically confirmed in Chamba in 2019, with researchers noting observations suggesting that its range may be extending toward lower elevations in the district.
One fatality involved a 40-year-old man who was bitten while working in an apple orchard in July 2020. Another involved a 62-year-old man who was bitten while walking to work in July 2021 and collapsed within about half an hour. Researchers highlighted the importance of rapid medical treatment following snakebite.
The report also raises concerns about the suitability of India’s commercially available anti-snake venom for Naja oxiana, because standard antivenom is primarily developed against India’s major medically important snake species. Researchers called for increased awareness and better preparedness in areas where the Caspian cobra occurs.
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