Snake rescuer dies after cobra bites him 3 times during rescue attempt in Rajasthan

JAISALMER: Known for rescuing snakes and handling them with remarkable confidence, a man in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer lost his life after being bitten three times by a cobra while attempting to catch it from a neighbour’s backyard.

Usually, he controlled snakes by holding them near the mouth, but this time he attempted to catch the cobra by its tail.

The moment he grabbed the tail, the snake became aggressive and bit him repeatedly three times.

After some time, his health started deteriorating.

Local residents rushed him to the hospital, from where he was referred to Jodhpur for advanced treatment. He remained on ventilator support for several days before passing away on Thursday. A video of the incident also surfaced on Thursday.

According to information received, the incident took place in Gandhi Colony of Jaisalmer city. Forty-five-year-old Ashok Vaishnav died during treatment at Mathuradas Mathur Hospital in Jodhpur.

Ashok Vaishnav, a resident near Majisa Temple in Gandhi Colony, used to perform religious rituals at the temple and was also involved in rescuing snakes.
On Saturday, April 25, a snake entered a neighboring house, causing panic among residents. Hearing the commotion, Ashok rushed there to rescue the snake. While trying to control the cobra by holding its tail, the snake bit him on the hand. He then threw the snake onto the ground and attempted to catch it again, during which the cobra bit him two more times.

Finally, Ashok grabbed the snake by the tail and slammed it forcefully onto the ground. People present at the spot recorded the incident on video. Shortly afterward, Ashok lost consciousness and collapsed.

He was immediately taken to Jawahir Hospital in Jaisalmer and later referred to Mathuradas Mathur Hospital in Jodhpur, where he was kept on ventilator support. Despite treatment, he died during the course of treatment.

His body was brought back to Jaisalmer on Thursday, where his last rites were performed.

Ashok Vaishnav is survived by his parents, two brothers, wife, and children. He lived with his family in a house located within the Hanuman Temple premises and earned a livelihood by performing temple rituals. He was the primary financial support for the family. His elder daughter is married, while his son and younger daughter are still pursuing their studies.

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