NAVI MUMBAI: A
cobra was found under the pillion seat of a parked motorcycle in Kharghar on Wednesday morning, triggering panic among locals. As a few curious bystanders moved closer to take a peek at the snake, it hissed out aloud and raised its hood, sending them scurrying for safety.
Rescuer and activist Raghunath Jadhav said he entered the scene after receving a call about a cobra "riding pillion" on a
bike outside Simran Housing Society in Sector 7. "When I reached the spot, I saw that the cobra, about 4.5 ft long, had slithered up the bike and crept into a small opening under the back seat. It was possibly chasing a prey, very likely a mouse, which could have jumped on to the bike," said Jadhav, who works for the Snake Awareness Association.
It took him about half-an-hour to coax the
reptile out from under the seat. "Every time I tried to touch the seat, it got aggressive. The rescue was a bit tricky and dangerous as the cobra had its head above the seat while the rest of it was underneath." Soon after, officials from the forest department were informed and the rescued serpent was released in a forested area.
During the monsoon, snakes are often sighted fleeing their flooded burrows. On Sunday, three juvenile pythons were rescued from Kharghar, while last Friday, a krait snake bit a tribal woman in Kharghar. The woman was rushed to hospital and is now out of danger.
Citizens can call up the state forest department's helpline '1926' if they happen to spot a snake.
The cobra was possibly chasing a mouse, said its rescuer.