An eight-year-old boy died on Thursday after being bitten by a snake at his home in Thiruvananthapuram district, officials said, adding that the boy’s family had alleged negligence by staff at the local government taluk hospital.
The boy, identified as Dikshal, was allegedly bitten by a cobra while sleeping with his parents and younger brother at their home in Azhoor around 2.30 am, according to a relative.
A cobra was discovered near the house and was beaten to death by locals, officials said.
The boy was first admitted to the government taluk hospital in Chirayanskizhu and later referred to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, family members said. He died on his way to Thiruvananthapuram hospital.
Later, local Congress workers marched to the taluk hospital to demand action against the alleged “negligent” staff. The authorities at Taluk Hospital did not respond to HT’s requests for comment.
The incident comes just four days after eight-year-old Aljo Silju died due to a krait bite near Kodakara in Thrissur district.
According to government figures, at least 19 people died from snakebites in the state from April 2025 to April 2026. Amid extreme heat conditions, experts have warned of the increased possibility of snakes entering homes.
