HARIDWAR: A 10-foot python was rescued from the premises of Haridwar railway station on Thursday after railway staff spotted it near a Vande Bharat Express undergoing maintenance, officials said.
The snake was spotted around noon near the undercarriage of the train at the washing line, prompting railway personnel to alert the Forest Department. The train had arrived from Dehradun in the morning for scheduled cleaning and technical checks ahead of its return journey.
A Forest Department team led by Forest Ranger Aarti Pant reached the station and safely captured the python using specialised equipment. The reptile was subsequently released in its natural habitat, officials said.
Divisional Forest Officer Swapnil Aniruddh said the station is located about 500 metres aerial distance from Rajaji National Park, making occasional wildlife movement into nearby areas possible.
“While wildlife occasionally ventures near human settlements, this is the first recorded instance of a python being spotted at the station,” he said.
The rescue operation took around two hours and temporarily disrupted maintenance work on the train. No injuries were reported.
Railway personnel alerted forest officials rather than attempting to capture the snake themselves, allowing the rescue team to handle the reptile safely.
Following the incident, railway authorities have stepped up vigilance around the washing line and are coordinating with forest officials on preventive measures. The Vande Bharat service resumed operations after the maintenance work was completed.
