Bengaluru: Passengers aboard the Ernakulam Junction–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express were left shocked on Friday after a dead viper was found lying on a passenger seat shortly before the train began its journey.
The incident occurred at around 2.30 pm inside the C6 Chair Car coach of train No. 26652. A woman passenger reportedly spotted the snake when she returned to her seat after using the washroom.
Dead snake found on passenger seat
The discovery caused panic among passengers in the coach. The woman alerted the travelling ticket examiner (TTE) and other railway staff onboard the train.
The train crew, with assistance from passengers, subsequently removed the dead viper from the coach.
A passenger later filed a complaint through the RailMadad portal, seeking attention from railway authorities over the unusual incident.
How did the snake enter the coach?
The incident has raised questions about pest-control measures and passenger safety on Vande Bharat trains.
The presence of a snake inside the passenger cabin was particularly unusual as Vande Bharat trains are fully air-conditioned and feature sealed gangways and automated doors that open only at scheduled stations.
Railway authorities have not yet established how the reptile entered the train. South Western Railway (SWR) officials reportedly did not comment on the incident despite attempts to seek a response.
The incident has also brought attention to an earlier reported case involving a Vande Bharat train. In December 2025, a passenger was accused of deliberately placing a snake inside the Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat.
The latest incident has renewed questions about safety and pest-control protocols aboard premium train services, while authorities are yet to determine the circumstances behind the discovery.