Cobra in JNU canteen, snake in PM’s house: Shocking places snakes are hiding in Delhi this monsoon

Representative image (Pixabay)

A three-foot-long Indian rat snake curled inside a kitchen cabinet on the third floor of an East of Kailash residence sent alarm bells ringing on Sunday, marking yet another monsoon-season encounter between humans and displaced reptiles in the capital.

As per The Indian Express, Karan Aggarwal, president of the East of Kailash Residents’ Welfare Association, recounted how the non-venomous yellowish snake with black crossbands was spotted in the kitchen. Wildlife SOS, an NGO running a 24/7 rescue helpline, was called in and its team safely removed the reptile.

Such incidents are becoming routine during Delhi’s monsoon months. Flooded burrows and waterlogged grounds force snakes out of their natural habitats and into urban spaces - homes, schools, even government buildings. "The monsoon season typically leads to an increase in snake sightings as they seek dry and safe shelters, often leading them into urban areas," Suvidha Bhatnagar, Director of Communications at Wildlife SOS was cited by The Indian Express.

The NGO has handled a flurry of calls in recent weeks. A spectacled cobra was extracted near a gas cylinder in JNU’s canteen, while a rat snake was removed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence earlier this month. Greater Noida and Ghaziabad saw cobras found inside an almirah and a cricket net, respectively. Paschim Vihar, Burari and Chhatarpur have also reported multiple sightings.

The trend isn’t limited to Delhi-NCR. Agra recorded over 100 snake rescue calls between June and mid-July, including 34 Indian rat snakes and 23 spectacled cobras. Even Kashmir reported cases, with snakes turning up in car bonnets and chicken coops.

Experts note that Delhi’s rainy season overlaps with the hatching period of native snake species. Wildlife SOS’s June advisory highlighted frequent rescues of spectacled cobras, common kraits and Indian rock pythons during this period.

Baiju Raj M V, Director of Conservation Projects at Wildlife SOS, noted that rising rescue calls indicate growing public awareness but gaps remain. East of Kailash RWA president Aggarwal pointed out that many residents remain clueless about emergency protocols. "We are most worried for our children since they are more vulnerable to these in the park," he said, The Indian Express reported.

Misidentification often puts non-venomous species like the rat snake - a natural pest controller - in danger. Wildlife SOS conducts awareness drives to counter myths and advises preventive steps: sealing cracks, storing waste properly and avoiding barefoot walks in wet areas.

Rescued snakes are medically assessed and released into safe wild habitats. "When people respond calmly and contact trained professionals, it results in a win for both safety and conservation," said Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder of Wildlife SOS, as cited by The Indian Express.