KATHMANDU, August 25: A total of 1,048 people have been bitten by snakes in various parts of the country since April, with 70 of them dying, according to data from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD).
In the last fiscal year (FY 2025/26), 10,144 people were bitten by snakes, while the figure was 8,118 in 2024/25. In fiscal year 2022/23, government records show that 1,120 people were bitten by snakes. In the past fiscal years, Koshi Province recorded the highest number of snakebite cases, with 2,983 people bitten. These figures, however, are based only on government data.
Professor Dr. Sanjib Sharma, a nephrologist and snakebite expert at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, said the actual number of snakebite cases is likely much higher than government records show.
According to him, deaths from snakebites that occur outside hospitals are often not included in hospital data and may not be recorded by other agencies either. Some victims also rely on traditional or home remedies instead of seeking medical treatment.
For this reason, Sharma estimated that the number of people affected by snakebites could be twice the figure reported in government data. According to a comprehensive survey conducted in 2022, around 30,000 people are bitten by snakes every year in Nepal, with approximately 3,000 dying from snakebites.
Sharma said studies have shown that poor and farming communities in Nepal are particularly vulnerable to snakebites. Farmers, laborers and people who cut grass and collect firewood or work in fields are among those most at risk. Their homes and workplaces can also expose them to a higher risk of snakebites.
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People in the Terai districts are particularly vulnerable, especially those who sleep on the ground, go into forests to collect grass and firewood, sleep without blankets or live in poorly built houses. Snakebites can also occur while working in animal sheds or collecting hay and firewood. Carelessness while working in fields can also lead to snakebites.
Snakes often hide in burrows, grass and piles of firewood. They may also enter homes during rainfall in search of shelter and food.
According to Sharma, venomous species such as kraits and Indian cobras are commonly found in the Terai region. Bites from these snakes can be fatal. He said a person bitten by a venomous snake can be saved if they are taken to a treatment center and given antivenom promptly.
Many people, however, either fail to reach snakebite treatment centers or arrive too late.
“You should go to a treatment center within an hour of being bitten by a snake. If you delay, the venom can paralyze the body’s nerves and cause death,” Sharma said. He warned that panicking after a snakebite, tightly tying the area above the bite or attempting to treat the bite at home can cost people their lives.
Dr. Amrit Pokharel, chief of outbreak management at the EDCD, said most people who die from snakebites either reach treatment centers too late or lack awareness about what to do after a bite.
The government has established snakebite treatment centers at 100 locations across the country and has also launched public awareness campaigns on snakebite prevention and treatment. Snakebite treatment is available at district hospitals, primary health centers, provincial hospitals and other health facilities.
At the government level, public awareness programs are being conducted through local media in five languages spoken in the Terai. The division also said the National Health Education, Information and Communication Center is disseminating information on snakebite prevention and treatment.
Ways to prevent snakebites
Sleep under a mosquito net.
Avoid touching rodent burrows or other holes.
Be cautious when collecting firewood or grass.
Wear protective footwear when working in fields.
Take extra care when cutting grass.
Wear boots and carry a torch when going out at night.
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