Discovery During Routine Inspection
On Sunday morning, railway staff at Gwalior station in Madhya Pradesh encountered a highly venomous spectacled cobra while inspecting the 11801 Gwalior–Prayagraj Express. The incident occurred during scheduled maintenance of a general coach on platform 3.
Coach and wagon (C&W) staff were checking water levels when they sensed something unusual. A cobra had apparently slithered aboard through an excavation area near the platform and hidden inside the coach.
Search and Rescue Operation
According to an official source from the Jhansi division of North Central Railway, the alert staff immediately began searching the coach. Initially, nothing was visible, but a closer inspection with a torch beneath the washbasins revealed slight movement. The snake had found a hiding spot under the washbasin panel.
RPF personnel and railway officials were informed. After everyone arrived, the panel beneath the washbasin was carefully dismantled, revealing the full-grown cobra. The reptile was safely brought out of the coach, guided off the tracks with sticks and wooden poles, and later released into a suitable natural habitat without harm.
Swift Action Prevents Incident
The official added, "Thanks to the sharp eyes and quick response of the C&W staff, the venomous passenger's journey ended before the train's did." By the time the report was filed, the train was reaching Mau Raipur station in Jhansi district.
