Commuters spot snake inside crowded local train, release it on tracks at Thane station

Passengers caught the snake and released it on the tracks and the train left soon after, a railway official said.

Commuters of a crowded CSMT-bound local train panicked on Thursday morning when they spotted a snake in their compartment and pulled the emergency chain. After the train stopped at Thane station, some passengers released the reptile on the tracks, and the train left soon after.

The incident took place during the morning peak hours in the 8.33am Titwala-CSMT local. (HT File Photo/Used for representational purpose)

The incident took place during the morning peak hours in the 8.33am Titwala-CSMT local. One of the male commuters in the general first-class compartment spotted the snake near the rod close to one of the overhead fans as the train was heading to Thane station and raised an alarm. Passengers switched off the fans and lights immediately and pulled the chain, after which the train halted at Thane station.

“The train stopped at Thane station’s platform no. 4 for 5-10 minutes. By the time, officials reached the spot, some of the commuters had caught the snake and released it on the tracks. The train left soon after,” said a Central Railway (CR) official from Thane station, who did not wish to be named. “The snake was around 1.5 feet long.”