‘Family thought it was a wiring fault — until it moved’: Cobra rescued from Noida home after 36-hour op

Forest department officials said a rescue team was dispatched to the Sector 51 residence on Tuesday, but could not spot the reptile. “We then made another attempt on Wednesday evening and caught the reptile,” said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Gautam Budh Nagar, P K Srivastava.

According to officials, the cobra — a highly venomous species often spotted around thick foliage during the monsoon — likely entered the home through a ceiling panel, possibly drawn in by the recent heavy rains. A video later surfaced online, showing the black cobra crawling through the ceiling vent.

“We suspect the snake entered the house through the ceiling panel and made its way into the light fixture,” an official said.

The family then rushed outside and alerted neighbours, sparking alarm across the locality.

Sanjeev Kumar, general secretary of the Sector 51 Residents Welfare Association (RWA), said the snake was approximately five feet long. “Initially, the family thought it was a wiring issue — until they saw it move. They alerted us, and we soon alerted the forest officials. Several vacant plots in the area have become breeding grounds for snakes. We’ve raised this issue with the authorities multiple times,” he said.

Despite attempts by a traditional snake charmer called in by the RWA, the cobra remained elusive. The family — including an elderly couple, two children, and two domestic helpers — moved to the second floor of their two-storey home for safety. However, with the kitchen on the ground floor and essential medications out of reach, the situation remained tense.

“Officials had warned that the false ceiling might need to be dismantled entirely. Fortunately, that wasn’t necessary,” Kumar said.

Vidyasagar Pandey, a junior forest staffer tracking the reptile since Tuesday, said they sprinkled a powder into the ceiling shaft and waited for the cobra to come out.

“We asked the family to alert us the moment they spotted movement. When they called, we rushed back and found the snake near the kitchen chimney. It was safely caught around 6.30 pm and released at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary,” Pandey said.

DFO Srivastava said the forest department team “worked tirelessly for over 36 hours before the cobra was rescued”. “In Gautam Buddh Nagar, five to six cobras are typically reported every month during this season. A bite can be fatal within 40 minutes if untreated,” he said.

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