A three-foot-long common krait, a highly venomous snake native to the Aravallis, was rescued by a wildlife team from a sports academy hostel in Sector 58 on Monday.
Wildlife experts found the snake hidden inside a student’s suitcase that was kept on the floor. The snake was kept under observation for three hours before being released into the Aravallis, under the supervision of the wildlife department. (HT Photo)
Officials said the male snake, weighing around one kilogram, was spotted entering one of the rooms on the ground floor of the academy built on a 1,200 square yard plot.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Karam Chand, advocate practising in Gurugram courts and a resident of Sector 55, who owns the hostel, said he received a call around 12.30am on Monday from one of the students. “One of the badminton players who was returning from the washroom spotted the snake in their sleeping area. He switched on all the lights in the room and asked everyone to go out. They ran outside and called me,” he said.
Chand said he locked the door from outside and asked the students to sleep in another room. “I informed the wildlife officials in the morning. They opened the room and found it hidden inside a student’s suitcase that was kept on the floor,” he said.
Anil Gandas, a wildlife expert who led the rescue operation, said he received a call from around 9.30am on Monday and he reached within half an hour. “A 18-year-old badminton player had spotted the snake. When I entered the room, it was not to be seen anywhere. We removed all the stuff one by one and inspected all clothes but could not find the snake. Then, I opened a suitcase and found it,” he said.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
This is the 18th snake to be rescued this month from residential areas of Gurugram. Snake sightings in residences become common over the past few years, according to the district wildlife department. In the past 10 years, there have been 1,042 snake rescues from houses, on average, every year.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
This is the 18th snake to be rescued this month from residential areas of Gurugram. Snake sightings in residences become common over the past few years, according to the district wildlife department. In the past 10 years, there have been 1,042 snake rescues from houses, on average, every year.
{{/usCountry}}
The snake was kept under observation for three hours before being released into the Aravallis, under the supervision of the wildlife department.
According to wildlife experts, 20 species of snakes are native to the Aravallis and four of them -- the monocled cobra, spectacled cobra, black cobra and the common krait -- are highly venomous.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.
