Two men were bitten by venomous snakes in separate incidents in suburban Mulund when they were trying to catch them, a Forest department official said on Monday. The victims, identified as Hasmukh Valanju and Kisan alias Abhijit Chavan who claim themselves to be 'sarpamitras' or self-proclaimed rescuers, are undergoing treatment at a Sion hospital in Mumbai.

Valanju was bitten by a cobra on Friday night and Chavan by a viper on Monday afternoon while they were trying to catch the reptiles, the official said. Valanju is capturing snakes illegally in the name of rescue, according to the official.