Gandhinagar, Feb. 22 -- The Gujarat government is set to get its own region-specific antivenom soon to reduce snakebite-related human deaths in the state.

The Gujarat government has set up the Snake Research Institute (SRI) in Dharampur town of Valsad district and is playing a key role in developing antivenom to treat snakebite patients effectively.

According to an official release from Gujarat CMO, the institute recently conducted an e-auction of lyophilised (powdered) snake venom for four major venomous snake species found in Gujarat: Indian Cobra, Common Krait, Russell's Viper and Saw-scaled Viper. These four species are responsible for most snakebite deaths in Gujarat.

Officials said the institute received higher-than-expected pric...