An eight-year-old boy died after being bitten by a snake while asleep at his house in Mattathur near Kodakara in Thrissur district of Kerala.
The deceased, Aljo, son of Siljo Kavunkal, was sleeping alongside his mother and brother when the incident occurred. His elder brother, 10-year-old Aloj, was also bitten and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital. His condition is reported to be critical.
According to family members, the children woke up around 2 a.m. on Sunday (April 19, 2026) complaining of discomfort and stomach pain. As the family had attended a function earlier and had eaten food there, the symptoms were initially suspected to be food-related. The children were given warm water and put back to bed.
However, by around 5.30 a.m., the elder boy again woke his mother, saying he felt unwell. It was then that the younger child was found in a severely weakened condition. Suspecting food poisoning, the family rushed both children to a nearby private hospital.
Doctors, noticing unusual symptoms, suspected a snakebite and upon examination identified bite marks on their bodies. Alerted by this, relatives and neighbours searched the bedroom and discovered a snake coiled beneath a pillow on the bed. The snake was later killed by the local people.
