A brief encounter with a Russell’s Viper

Author - Kabir Sabde Pune, November 2025

At the Kasarsai Dam near Pune, we had a brief encounter with a Russell’s Viper (Daboia Russelii). While it was brief, one of our family members spotted it basking by the swampy area. When I went there the RV started rapidly moving because of the loud gasp I made when I heard it was there. It was gone in a flash!

For those who are curious, a Russell’s Viper is a venomous snake in South Asia. It’s one of big four dangerous snakes in India. It is known for its extremely painful bite. Its venom is a very complex mix of toxins. It can impact human body in many ways such as neurotoxicity and myotoxicity, interfering with blood clotting, coagulopathy and hemorrhage, and more that I may not know of yet!

Nonetheless, it is a very dangerous snake that is not to be trifled with and is best to be admired from a distance. 

Russell's Viper basking in the setting sun by the bank of Kasarsai Dam, near Pune.