Bengaluru Techie Dies After Snake Hides in Crocs – The Silent Killer No One Saw Coming

Bengaluru, September 3, 2025  — A 41-year-old software engineer, Manju Prakash, died after being bitten by a juvenile Russell’s viper that had hidden inside his footwear at his Bengaluru, Bannerghatta home. The incident occurred on Saturday morning when he slipped on his Crocs to go out without realizing the snake was inside.

Family members reported that after returning home he went into his room and slept. When a domestic worker later spotted the snake inside the Crocs, the family rushed to check on Prakash and found him unresponsive, with foam and blood coming from his nose. He was taken to a hospital in Bannerghatta Road but was declared brought dead. The family allege he could not have sensed the bite due to nerve damage in his left leg from a road accident in 2016.

Wildlife rescuers confirmed that the snake was a juvenile Russell’s viper, about one foot in length. Experts noted that smaller vipers can sometimes inject proportionally more venom than adults. Following the incident, snake rescuers and residents in Bengaluru reported heightened concerns about footwear, cardboard boxes, and clutter becoming hiding spots for snakes during the rainy season.

Russell’s Viper and Its Venom

The Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) is one of the “Big Four” snakes in India responsible for the majority of fatal bites. ^[1] Its venom is hemotoxic, meaning it damages blood cells and blood vessels, leading to excessive bleeding, clotting disorders, kidney failure, and tissue damage. Even a juvenile viper can deliver venom potent enough to cause rapid deterioration if treatment is delayed.

Russell’s viper venom typically causes:

• Severe pain and swelling at the bite site

• Bleeding and clotting abnormalities

• Drop in blood pressure

• Renal complications

• Shock, if untreated

The only definitive treatment is administration of polyvalent anti-snake venom (ASV) which is most effective when given promptly.

Footwear left outdoors is a common hiding spot for snakes, insects, spiders etc particularly during monsoon months when encounters are more frequent.

Snakebite Burden in India

India records the world’s highest number of snakebite deaths, estimated at over 50,000 annually. As per the Central Bureau of Health Investigation (CBHI) reports (2016–2020), the average annual frequency of snakebite cases in India is around 3 lakh, and about 2,000 deaths occur due to snakebite envenoming. However, independent estimates suggest the actual death toll could be significantly higher because many cases go unreported in rural areas. Russell’s viper is responsible for a large proportion of these fatalities due to its widespread presence and the potency of its venom. Many deaths occur because victims either delay hospital treatment or lack immediate access to antivenom. ^[1]

Preventive Measures

Health authorities and herpetologists advise simple precautions to reduce risk:

• Always check shoes and slippers before wearing them.

• Avoid walking barefoot, especially at night or in poorly lit areas.

• Seek immediate hospital care if bitten, without relying on traditional remedies.

• Keep surroundings free of clutter where snakes may hide.

After A snake bite

• Make sure the wound is below the heart level.

• Keep the person calm and rush to the hospital.

• Cover the wound with sterile loose bandage.

• Remove shoes, tight clothing or any jewellery around it.

• lie down the person with wound below the heart.

  Avoid making the wound larger or to try to suck the venom out.

• Apply tourniquet or ice or water

• Do not give the patient any medication, alcohol or other caffeinated drinks

_{Note: This content is purely informational and isn’t medical guidance. It shouldn’t replace professional medical counsel. Always consult your physician regarding treatment risks and more.}

Reference:

1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. “Union Health Ministry Launches National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming in India – An Initiative to Halve the Snakebite Deaths by 2030 through ‘One Health’ Approach.” Press Information Bureau, March 12, 2024. Accessed September 3rd, 2025. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2013803.

_MSM