A 24-year-old man is lucky to be alive after he cut off his own tongue in what he believed to be a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The young worker, identified in India as Vivek Sharma, reportedly did it in order to please a deity to protect others.

He is said to have become anxious about the spread of the killer disease, which has clamed more than 160,000 lives worldwide.
It happened in Nadeshwari in Gujarat.

Vivek had been employed as a stone cutter alongside eight others working at the Bhavani Mata temple in Suigam.

One of his co-workers said that he was an ardent devotee of Kali Mata.
On Saturday morning, he left Bhavani temple saying that he was going to the market, but did not return.

When his brother rang his phone, a stranger answered and told him what had happened.
According to police reports, Vivek did it thinking that by sacrificing the tongue he would please the god to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Police were called by a priest, and arrived to find him unconscious.

Vivek was then rushed to the hospital where doctors are trying to reattach his tongue.
Medic SK Vala said: “Only after a thorough investigation, we will know the exact reason for such a step."