A terrifying scare unfolded in the bustling market area of Pehowa in Haryana's Kurukshetra district when a six-foot-long python climbed onto the foot of a customer standing at a juice shop. The customer, who initially perceived a soft cushion-like sensation under his shoe, was alerted just in time by an alert bystander standing nearby. The rapid warning allowed him to pull his foot away instantly, escaping unhurt as widespread commotion gripped the shop and surrounding marketplace.
Unexpected Encounter During an Evening Visit
The incident occurred around 6 pm at a juice outlet situated right beside the busy Pehowa bus stand. Manjeet Singh, a 40-year-old resident of Garhi Singha village, had stopped by the stall to grab a drink after his day's work. As he stood near the entrance, a large reptile began slithering through the doorway directly beneath him. Without realizing it, Manjeet planted his foot directly on the crawling reptile. Thinking he had stepped on something unusually soft, he hesitated for a brief second before a bystander spotted the creature and yelled out a clear warning that a snake was under his foot. Manjeet leaped back immediately, and the onlooker quickly informed the stall owner about the intruder.
Reptile Retreats into a Corner Burrow
The shop owner promptly rallied his workers to assess the situation inside the premises. Recognizing that the creature was not a venomous viper or cobra but rather a heavy non-venomous python, the workers opted to manage the situation on their own rather than dispatching a call to the forest department or summoning professional snake catchers. However, frightened by the commotion, the reptile quickly retreated into an opening near the back corner of the store, disappearing into a deep underground burrow. Workers initially tried grabbing it by its rear section to pull it free, but because the majority of its muscular body was firmly wedged inside the hole, their efforts failed.
A 45-Minute Rescue Involving Digging and Restraint
To free the trapped reptile without causing harm, the workers began digging around the hole inside the rear section of the store. For nearly forty-five minutes, an intense rescue effort took place as two people worked continuously to widen the underground opening while keeping the animal contained. Once enough space was cleared, the workers carefully tossed a heavy piece of cloth over the reptile to subdue its movements. Safely shielded beneath the fabric, the approximately 10-kilogram, six-foot-long creature was successfully restrained and pulled out into the open.
Safe Release Near the Local Drain Embankment
After successfully securing the large python, workers carried it away from the crowded commercial area and released it along the embankment of a nearby drain. The intense forty-five-minute ordeal left bystanders, the shopkeeper, and the customer visibly shaken, but thankfully nobody sustained injuries during the entire confrontation.
