Snakebite crisis: Andhra reports 59 fatalities from 2023 to 2025, Telangana none
The data was shared by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh in the Lok Sabha in response to a question raised by Karnataka MP Prabha Mallikarjun.
By Newsmeter Network
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New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh reported 59 snakebite deaths between 2023 and 2025.
The highest of 41 fatalities occurred in 2024, according to data presented by the Centre in Parliament on Monday.
Telangana, on the other hand, recorded zero deaths during the same period, highlighting a sharp regional contrast in snakebite mortality.
Reply in Lok Sabha
The data was shared by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh in the Lok Sabha in response to a question raised by Karnataka MP Prabha Mallikarjun.
Southern states contribute major share
Across the country, 984 snakebite deaths were reported from 36 states and Union Territories during the three years.
Of these, 431 deaths (43.80%) were recorded in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh alone, underlining the higher vulnerability in southern India.
Karnataka accounted for the highest number of fatalities at 277, followed by Tamil Nadu with 95 deaths and Andhra Pradesh with 59.
Telangana, Puducherry report zero fatalities
In contrast, Telangana and Puducherry reported no snakebite deaths during the same period. Kerala also recorded relatively low fatalities, with just four deaths in the past two years.
Overall, 15 states and Union Territories across the country reported zero snakebite deaths between 2023 and 2025.
Deaths show rising trend nationwide
The Centre flagged a steady rise in snakebite fatalities across India over the three years. The number of deaths increased from 183 in 2023 to 370 in 2024, and further to 431 in 2025, indicating a growing public health concern.
Centre urges ‘Notifiable Disease’ status
To strengthen monitoring and response, the Union Health Ministry has written to states urging them to declare snakebite as a “notifiable disease” under public health laws.
So far, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Odisha have taken this step, enabling better tracking and management of snakebite cases.
