A large number of rural employment scheme workers engaged in undergrowth clearing fall victim to snakebite in Kerala every year. According to forest officials who monitor snakebite incidents and reptile rescue missions in the state, several fatal snakebite victims also belong to this group of workers.
An estimated 3,000 to 4,000 cases of snakebite occur annually in the state. Apart from the employment guarantee system, those most likely to be bitten by a snake include agricultural workers and manual workers involved in clearing brush along roads.
Chief Wildlife Warden (Kerala) Pramod G. Krishnan, who highlighted the problem of workers being bitten by snakes more and more, recently took up the issue with the state government. “It is estimated that nearly 60 per cent of snake bite victims in Kerala are such workers who work in snake habitats and bushy areas where the reptiles usually hide,” Mr Krishnan said.
“Earlier it was observed that snakes were mostly bitten by agricultural labourers. The introduction of mechanization in agriculture has saved the agricultural laborers from attacks. Currently, it has been noticed that the National Employment Guarantee Scheme workers and those engaged in clearing undergrowth in agricultural areas and paths are the ones who are bitten by snakes,” he warned in a letter issued recently to state workers to provide gloves for a long time. machetes and agricultural machinery. Employees should also be made aware of the scientific methods to be adopted after a snake bite and the need for proper medical attention that would mean the difference between life and death, the paper warned.
The availability of anti-snake venom at medical centers in remote or isolated areas is a cause for concern, he said. “The Indian spectacled cobra accounts for the highest number of snakebites in Kerala and is among the most venomous snakes, followed by the humpback viper. A WhatsApp group of doctors and herpetologists, Snakes of Kerala-ID Quest, is actively working to identify snakes, which is crucial in deciding on medical treatment, which is often done during species identification. Sandeep10th herpetologist of the group.
At present, anti-snake venom is available in hospitals at taluk level and above. The process of identifying priority areas where it is necessary to store anti-snake venom is underway, said Dr. Ajan, State Coordinator of the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Snakebite Poisoning.
Published – 15 March 2026 21:02 IST
