Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department will launch a digital platform called SHIVAA during Wildlife Week (October 2–8) to connect citizens with authorised, trained snake rescuers, a move aimed at improving emergency response and reducing snakebite fatalities across the state.
Why the app: rising snakebite burden
The state initiative follows a marked increase in snakebite mortality and reported incidents. Data placed before Parliament under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme–Integrated Health Information Platform (IDSP-IHIP) show that snakebite deaths in Madhya Pradesh rose to 27 in 2025, compared with 12 deaths each in 2024 and 2023. Nationwide, reported deaths recorded via the same platform rose to 431 in 2025, up from 370 in 2024 and 183 in 2023.
Reported snakebite cases in Madhya Pradesh also climbed sharply: 3,334 cases in 2024, compared with 1,479 in 2023 and 1,208 in 2022, according to the IDSP-IHIP figures placed before Parliament.
How SHIVAA will work
The SHIVAA application is modelled on on-demand platforms and is designed to put trained rescuers a short distance away from people who encounter snakes. Key features reported by officials include:
- Ability for citizens to locate and call the nearest authorised snake rescuer via the app;
- Booking flow similar to cab-hailing services for rapid deployment of rescuers;
- Immediate safety guidance and first-aid instructions for users at the time of reporting;
- Maps of nearby hospitals stocked with anti-snake venom (ASV) to facilitate urgent medical referral.
Expected local impact and operational questions
Forest department officials expect the app to shorten response times in both rural and peri-urban areas, where many snake encounters occur. Rapid access to trained rescuers and clear first-aid instructions could reduce unnecessary handling of snakes and delays in getting victims to medical care, public-health experts say.
Practical implementation, however, will determine the app's success. Important operational issues include the geographic distribution and number of authorised rescuers, connectivity in remote habitations, training standards for rescue personnel, and reliable real-time information on hospital anti-venom stocks.
| Year | MP snakebite deaths | MP reported cases | India deaths (IDSP-IHIP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | 1,208 | 183 (India, 2023 figure for context) |
| 2023 | 12 | 1,479 | 183 |
| 2024 | 12 | 3,334 | 370 |
| 2025 | 27 | — | 431 |
Why accurate mapping and training matter
In rural Madhya Pradesh, many snakebite incidents occur around homes, farms and fields where delayed identification, improper handling and late medical referral increase the risk of fatality. A coordinated response — combining trained field rescuers, prompt first aid and timely hospital care with available ASV — is widely regarded as the most effective approach to reduce deaths and disability from snakebites.
Authorities have indicated the app will include guidance on safe behaviour and steps to avoid aggravating bites. Ensuring that rescuers are certified and that hospitals update anti-venom availability in real time will be crucial to avoid false assurances and delays.
Rollout and community outreach
The forest department plans to unveil SHIVAA during Wildlife Week. Officials will need to couple the technical launch with public-awareness campaigns in both Hindi and local dialects, and targeted outreach in tribal and farming communities where snake encounters are most frequent.
If effectively implemented and supported by regular training and supply-chain monitoring for ASV, SHIVAA could become a practical tool in the state's broader effort to reduce the human toll from snakebite envenoming—an issue that has shown a rising trend in recent official data.
Reporting from Bhopal.
