A woman driving to work in Ghaziabad stopped her car after spotting a cobra on the dashboard while traveling on the city's elevated road.
A nearby head constable with the Ghaziabad Traffic Police then used an empty water bottle to capture the snake before either the driver or the animal was hurt.
Here's what to know
Meenakshi, who lives in the Raj Nagar Extension area, was heading to her workplace in Noida when she suddenly saw a cobra inside her car near Kanawani on the Delhi-bound carriageway, Ghaziabad Traffic Police told Asianet Newsable. She immediately pulled over and exited the vehicle.
A Ghaziabad Traffic Police head constable on nearby VVIP crane duty carried out the rescue, noticed the distressed driver, and took a plastic bottle from the crane to trap the snake safely.
After retrieving the snake, neither Meenakshi nor the cobra was injured. The Forest Department then took the animal for handling and release. In a post on X, Ghaziabad Traffic Police said the constable's "courage and quick response helped protect the woman and ensured the safe rescue of the wildlife."
#सराहनीय_कार्य - यातायात पुलिस गाजियाबाद! 👮♂️👏 आज दिनांक 01.07.2026 को एलिवेटेड रोड पर ( कनावनी के पास) दिल्ली जाने वाली साइड में एक महिला चालक की कार के डैशबोर्ड में अचानक #सांप दिखने से महिला भयभीत होकर तत्काल वाहन रोककर नीचे उतरी। वहाँ VVIP क्रेन ड्यूटी पर तैनात #यातायात_पुलिस के मुख्य आरक्षी (हेड कांस्टेबल) द्वारा त्वरित कार्रवाई की आवश्यकता के दृष्टिगत तत्परता और अदम्य साहस का परिचय देते हुए सांप को क्रेन में मौजूद पानी की खाली बोतल में सुरक्षित रूप से रेस्क्यू किया गया। बाद में वन्यजीव की सुरक्षा हेतु उसे #वन_विभाग की टीम के सुपुर्द किया गया। यातायात कर्मी के इस साहसिक कार्य से महिला चालक यातायात पुलिस का आभार व्यक्त करते हुए भयमुक्त होकर सुरक्षित अपने गंतव्य की ओर रवाना हुईं। यातायात पुलिस गाजियाबाद आपकी सुरक्षा और सेवा में सदैव तत्पर है। #GoodWork #GhaziabadPolice #TrafficPolice #InServiceOfNation @ghaziabadpolice @Uppolice @uptrafficpolice @dgpup @adgzonemeerut @digrangemeerut @AmarUjalaNews @aajtak @abplive @UPGovt @dm_ghaziabad
— Ghaziabad Traffic Police (@Gzbtrafficpol) July 1, 2026
Meenakshi thanked the traffic police before continuing on, and the Ghaziabad Traffic Police shared a short video of the rescue on X.
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More background
Because the incident unfolded during a regular office commute on an elevated road, it posed an immediate safety risk not just to the driver but also to surrounding traffic if she had panicked or lost control.
The cobra appeared as Meenakshi drove from a residential area toward Noida, where built-up roads and wildlife zones meet.
That overlap between human spaces and the wild can make surprising encounters like this more common.
Social media users praised the rescue as brave and fast-acting.
What's being done?
By stopping the car, stepping out, and getting help from a nearby officer, the driver avoided a situation that could have led to a crash or a bite.
The constable used what they had on hand—an empty bottle from the crane—rather than relying on specialized rescue gear.
After the capture, the Forest Department, responsible for the safe handling and release of wildlife, took over.
Public posts from Ghaziabad Traffic Police and UP Police showed officers protecting the public first, then coordinating with wildlife officials so the animal was not unnecessarily harmed.
Where can I learn more?
The Ghaziabad rescue is one example of how quickly wildlife can create danger around drivers, homes, and other everyday spaces. Other articles look at cobra removals from homes in India, a roadway snake rescue in Pennsylvania, and risky animal encounters elsewhere in Asia and Africa.
• In Gujarat, rescuers safely returned an Indian cobra to the wild after a home sighting.
• In Kota, residents panicked after cobras turned up in two homes, including one near ladoos.
• In Pennsylvania, responders moved a massive snake slithering across a busy street out of danger.
• In Thailand, a tourist encounter showed why visitors must exercise caution around wild monkeys.
• Video showed a woman's risky interaction with a warthog end in an attack.
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