A video circulating on social media has sparked concern among railway passengers after a snake was spotted inside the 3AC coach of the Gondia–Barauni Express. The small clip shows a snake moving inside a train coach. The video has since been shared widely on social media.However, there is currently no official confirmation establishing the exact date or even the species of snake. According to information released by the Ministry of Railways through the Press Information Bureau in August 2026, 15232 Gondia–Barauni Junction Express is among the trains serving Gondia. Its return service is numbered 15231, Barauni Junction–Gondia Express, connecting Maharashtra and Bihar.The videoAccording to the video shared on social media, passengers noticed a snake inside a 3AC coach. The railway staff was alerted. But the sighting caused panic among passengers, with some people attempting to maintain distance from the animal.The video being circulated shows what appears to be a snake inside a train coach. The travellers can be heard making speculations about the snake, whether to catch it or not.One passenger says, “pakad liya jaye” (should we catch it)To which the other passenger responds, “bahut lamba hai” (it’s a long one)The passengers clearly sound unsure about what to do in the situation. Meanwhile the snake kept slithering around passenger’s luggages.So what should you do if you see a snake on a train?
- Don’t panic.
- Maintain a safe distance.
- Don’t attempt to catch the snake at any cost.
- Alert the railway authorities as soon as possible
- Passengers can also inform the coach attendant, RPF or any other available railway personnel.
Indian Railways’ RailMadad system provides passengers with a mechanism to register complaints and request assistance during a journey. The official RailMadad portal specifically provides fields for train number, PNR, coach number, berth/seat number, complaint description and incident date. It also allows passengers to upload supporting files, including images and videos.For security or medical assistance, passengers can also contact the integrated 139 RailMadad helpline. The Ministry of Railways has stated that 139 is the integrated number for railway queries, complaints and assistance during travel, including security and medical assistance.Gondia–Barauni Express: a long-distance train across central and north India
Cobra Snake (Representative Image: Canva)
For passengers planning a journey on this route, the Gondia–Barauni Express is a significant long-distance service connecting eastern Maharashtra with Bihar.The route also makes the train relevant for travellers exploring several parts of central, eastern and northern India. Among the major stations along the route are Gondia, Durg, Raipur, Anuppur, Katni, Satna, Prayagraj Chheoki, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chhapra, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Barauni.This makes the service useful not only for passengers travelling between its origin and destination but also for those using the train to reach cities and destinations along the route.In case a passenger is bitten by a snake, medical attention should be sought immediately through railway staff.