A man known for rescuing snakes and handling them with remarkable confidence lost his life after being bitten three times by a cobra in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer. The incident occurred when he attempted to catch the snake from a neighbor’s backyard.
Details of the Incident
Forty-five-year-old Ashok Vaishnav, a resident of Gandhi Colony near Majisa Temple, regularly performed religious rituals at the temple and also rescued snakes. On Saturday, April 25, a cobra entered a neighboring house, causing panic. Hearing the commotion, Ashok rushed to help. Usually, he controlled snakes by holding them near the mouth, but this time he tried to catch the cobra by its tail. The moment he grabbed the tail, the snake became aggressive and bit him three times on the hand. He 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.
Aftermath and Medical Treatment
Shortly after the incident, Ashok lost consciousness and collapsed. Bystanders recorded the event on video. Locals rushed him to Jawahir Hospital in Jaisalmer, from where he was referred to Mathuradas Mathur Hospital in Jodhpur for advanced treatment. He remained on ventilator support for several days before passing away on Thursday. The video of the incident surfaced on the same day.
Family and Background
Ashok Vaishnav is survived by his parents, two brothers, wife, and children. He lived with his family in a house 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. His body was brought back to Jaisalmer on Thursday, where his last rites were performed.
