Published Jul 22, 2026 | 10:08 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 22, 2026 | 10:08 AM
Karnataka recorded 16,805 snakebite cases and 160 deaths in 2025. Pictured, Someshwara in Udupi district. (Manjeshpv/Wikimedia)
Synopsis: Rajya Sabha data shows Karnataka recorded India’s highest snakebite fatalities in 2025, with deaths rising from 19 in 2023 to 160 in 2025 alongside a steep increase in cases. While the Centre says anti-snake venom production is adequate, stark differences across southern states raise questions over treatment access, surveillance and reporting.
Karnataka has emerged as India’s deadliest snakebite hotspot, recording the highest number of fatalities from venomous reptiles in the country in 2025, according to data the Union government tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, 21 July.
Replying to an unstarred question by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said the Centre was implementing the Programme for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming across all States and Union Territories under the National Health Mission (NHM).
He also maintained that the country has adequate anti-snake venom (ASV) production to meet national demand.
“As per the information received from the Drugs Controller General of India, the combined annual production capacity of government and private manufacturers is adequate to meet the country’s requirement for Anti-Snake Venom (ASV), based on the annual snakebite cases reported by States/UTs under the IDSP-IHIP. Public sector manufacturers producing ASV at the State level are supported by their respective State Governments,” Jadhav said in his written reply.
The data, sourced from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)-Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), showed a sharp increase in both snakebite cases and fatalities across the country over the past three years.
India reported 86,294 snakebite cases and 183 deaths in 2023. The number rose sharply to 120,982 cases and 375 deaths in 2024, before increasing further to 140,302 cases and 429 deaths in 2025.
The government attributed its response to snakebite to the National Health Mission, under which snakebite prevention and treatment are integrated into the Health System Strengthening programme. States were being supported in procuring anti-snake venom, emergency medicines, equipment and transport facilities.
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Among all States, Karnataka recorded the steepest rise in both cases and deaths.
The state reported 6,596 snakebite cases and 19 deaths in 2023. Cases doubled to 13,235 in 2024, while deaths increased more than fivefold to 101. In 2025, Karnataka recorded 16,805 cases and 160 deaths, the highest fatality count reported by any state in the country.
Over the three years, reported snakebite cases in Karnataka increased by nearly 155%, while fatalities rose more than eightfold.
The figures stood in sharp contrast to the national trend, where cases increased substantially, but fatalities did not rise at the same pace as seen in Karnataka.
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The data revealed varying trends across South India.
Tamil Nadu, which consistently recorded one of India’s highest snakebite burdens, witnessed a gradual decline in both cases and deaths. Reported cases fell from 19,795 in 2023 to 16,142 in 2024 and 15,837 in 2025. Fatalities also declined from 43 to 27 and then to 26.
Andhra Pradesh reported relatively stable case numbers, with 4,812 cases in 2023, 4,582 in 2024 and 4,707 in 2025. Deaths fluctuated from six to 41, before falling to 13 in 2025.
Kerala recorded a steady increase in reported snakebite cases, rising from 1,235 in 2023 to 2,419 in 2024 and 2,987 in 2025. Fatalities remained low, with zero deaths in 2023, one in 2024 and two in 2025.
Telangana reported 2,567, 2,483 and 2,998 snakebite cases during 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. However, the state officially reported zero snakebite deaths in all three years.
Similarly, Puducherry recorded 202, 214 and 305 cases during the period without reporting any fatalities.
The variation was striking. While Karnataka recorded a sharp escalation in deaths, Telangana and Puducherry reported no fatalities despite recording thousands and hundreds of snakebite cases, respectively, raising questions about differences in surveillance, reporting practices, healthcare access and timely administration of anti-snake venom.
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Responding to concerns about the availability of anti-snake venom, the government said polyvalent Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) has been included in both the National List of Essential Medicines and State Essential Drug Lists to improve affordability and accessibility.
States and Union Territories can procure ASV through the National Free Drug Initiative under the NHM.
The minister reiterated that the country’s existing manufacturing capacity was sufficient to meet reported demand.
The reply added that public sector manufacturers producing anti-snake venom at the state level were being supported by their respective state governments.
The Centre informed Parliament that it had asked all States and Union Territories to notify snakebite as a notifiable disease under their public health laws to improve surveillance.
So far, 12 states have notified snakebite cases and deaths: Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.
Notably, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were not on the list.
The government also highlighted the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE), launched on 12 March 2024, which aligns with the global target of halving snakebite deaths by 2030.
According to the ministry, the plan focused on strengthening surveillance, training healthcare workers, improving emergency treatment, ensuring sustained availability of anti-snake venom and expanding public awareness campaigns.
Although the parliamentary question specifically sought state-wise details on shortages of anti-snake venom in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and district hospitals over the past three years, the government did not provide the requested data.
Instead, it maintained that India’s combined public and private manufacturing capacity was adequate to meet the country’s anti-snake venom requirements based on reported snakebite cases.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
