Bihar man wears live king cobra as part of religious event get-up, dies after snake bite

A man from Madhepura district in Bihar died after the snake he was wearing around his neck bit him on Thursday. The man was wearing a costume similar to that of Lord Shiva, complete with a live king cobra snake around his neck.

He was a performer by trade and used to showcase his act in stage shows during Ram Leela and other similar religious events. On the day of, he was attending a religious event in the get up and was rushed to a nearby hospital after the snake bit him.

After the snake bit him, the organisers of the event rushed him to the health centre in Murliganj from where the doctors referred him to the Sadar hospital. However, he died enroute the hospital.


The man was identified as Mukesh Kumar Ram (30). He was a native of the Khurda village in the Madhepura district.

The event was organised at the Maa Durga temple in Khurda on the occasion of 'Akhand Astam' in Murliganj block. Mukesh was dressed as Lord Shiva, wearing a king cobra around his neck.

According to some sources, following his death, the organisers of the event dumped the body at the hospital and fled from the sport.

Currently the man's body has been sent for an autopsy, which will be conducted in the presence of police.