Controversial snake rescuer from Kerala, Vava Suresh, was bitten by a cobra during one of his rescue missions in Kottayam district of the state on Monday.
The 48-year-old was initially rushed to a private hospital in the city. He became unconscious 10 minutes before reaching the hospital, with his pulse rate dropping to the 20s.
He was later moved to Kottayam medical college hospital.
According to media reports, his condition remains critical.
Health Minister Veena George said the state will bear Vava Suresh's medical expenses.
Minister V.N. Vasavan visited Suresh at the hospital.
A video, that has gone viral, showed Suresh holding the cobra with his bare hands and trying to get it into a bag without any safety precautions—something that he is often criticised for—even as people looked on. He dropped the venomous snake to the ground after he was bitten by it.
This is not the first time Suresh is bitten by a snake. He has been on ventilator twice and in ICU four times after snake bites. He has survived more than 300 venomous snake bites, as he engages in the rescue operations without safety precautions.
