Nearly 6-foot cobra hiding under kitchen sends India family rushing to safety

A nearly six-foot cobra hiding beneath a kitchen in India sent one family rushing to safety after hissing and movement inside the home revealed a dangerous surprise.

As The Live Nagpur reported , the rescue ended without injury to either the residents or the snake, but the incident showed how quickly a wildlife encounter can become a major safety concern.

At around 2 p.m. on Aug. 11, 2026, the Songade family left their home in Gayatri Colony and alerted neighbors after tracing hissing and movement in the kitchen to a cobra concealed beneath the kitchen area, the publication said.

As neighbors gathered outside, Shubham G.R., president of Wild Animals and Nature Helping Society, was called to the scene. He captured the cobra from the kitchen and released it into the wild, according to TLN.

A venomous cobra inside a home poses a serious risk, especially in a confined indoor space. In India, these types of events crop up from time to time, and it can be alarming for locals.

While it is unclear exactly why this cobra entered the house, situations like this can be linked in part to human activity.

As homes, roads, and neighborhoods expand into or alongside wildlife habitat, animals and people are pushed into closer contact. Even common features around homes, including dark corners, stored belongings, food scraps, and rodents, can make residential spaces appealing hiding spots for snakes.

The BBC has reported that human expansion into natural spaces can increase dangerous encounters with wild animals, creating risks for both residents and animals trying to navigate altered environments.

A cobra in a kitchen can drive a family from their home and cause panic throughout a neighborhood. The situation can also turn deadly for the snake, as frightened residents may try to trap or kill it instead of calling trained professionals.

Instead of trying to deal with the cobra themselves, TLN noted the family kept away from it, alerted others, and sought help from a trained rescuer.

Wildlife rescuers say that is the right response when a snake is found indoors. People should keep their distance, make sure children and pets stay away from the area, and contact an authorized wildlife rescue team or trained snake rescuer as quickly as possible.

Reducing the chances of similar encounters can involve keeping homes and nearby areas clean, limiting places where snakes can hide, and addressing conditions that attract prey animals such as rodents.

Those steps may not eliminate the risk entirely, particularly in places close to wildlife habitat, but they can help reduce the odds of a frightening encounter inside the home.

Fortunately, in this case, the family was unharmed, and the cobra was removed safely, avoiding a much worse outcome.

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