Russell's viper

Tamil Nadu has high numbers of four venomous snakes whose bites can seriously affect humans: the spectacled cobra, the Russell's viper, the saw-scaled viper and the common krait.

Indian antivenom targets the “big four” species of venomous snakes in the region: the Indian cobra, the common krait, Russell's viper and the saw-scaled viper.

For Russell's viper bites, the antivenom seems to produce fewer allergic reactions than other available options.

Two rounds later, it defeated Arth Dalsania, who swapped in an “a” for the “u” in “katuka,” a venomous snake also known as Russell’s viper.

She had been bitten by a Russell's viper - a highly venomous earth-coloured snake responsible for thousands of deaths in India every year.