Snakes, universally dreaded as being among the most deadly creatures on earth, comprise more than 3,000 species, though few of them are poisonous. Even among the non-poisonous varieties, thoughtless handling can be perilous, as has been evidenced by a recent incident in Uttar Pradesh.
In a shocking case from Amroha district, a man named Jitendra Kumar, who is a marginal farmer, is currently in a critical condition after he tried to kiss a snake while filming a stunt for a video. The video, which gained popularity immediately, was posted by journalist Priya Singh on X (then Twitter), garnering attention and shock online.
In the clip, the snake is wrapped around Kumar’s neck as he performs in front of a small audience with a confident demeanor. He gently leans forward, extending his tongue in a kissing gesture towards the reptile. In a quick response, the reptile nips and bites him.
Watch:
ये कला दिखा रहे थे तभी सांप ने डस लिया. अब ये जिंदगी और मौत के बीच ICU में जंग लड़ रहे हैं. ये अपने गांव में अक्सर इस तरह की कलाकारी किया करते थे. लेकिन इस बार इन्हें सांप को Kiss करना महंगा पड़ गया. घटना यूपी अमरोहा की है. pic.twitter.com/15ZMYyz3c9
— Priya singh (@priyarajputlive) June 14, 2025
What really stunned most of the viewers even further was Kumar’s nonchalant behavior after the bite—he went on smiling and even puffed on a cigarette. The caption to the trending video states: “He is engaged in a battle between death and life in the ICU. He would do such tricks frequently in his village. But this time kissing the snake cost him dearly.”
Farmer Under Critical Condition
As per The Times of India, Kumar was drunk when the incident occurred. He soon deteriorated after being bitten, and an emergency was transferred to a private hospital in Moradabad, where he is currently undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit.
Village elder Jaikirat Singh confirmed the chain of events. “A snake was seen on a wall during Friday evening, and there was commotion among the people. Jitendra rushed to the spot and caught the reptile and immediately wrapped it around his neck. He began to play with it and brought it close to his mouth. When his grip relaxed, the snake bit him on the tongue,” Singh said to reporters.
Similar Instance
It is not the first time that such dangerous acts have hit the headlines. In a similar incident, a man from Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri was spotted in a viral video attempting to pour alcohol into the mouth of a snake wrapped around his neck. The authorities stepped in later, and the man was arrested on charges of reckless behavior.
These tragedies remain constant reminders that wild creatures are not to be employed for entertainment purposes, particularly not for social media stardom.