# Dehradun outskirts see 542 snakes rescued, 112 venomous this year 2026-09-20T19:27:47+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Dehradun's expanding outskirts are reporting a rise in venomous snake encounters, with 542 snakes rescued between January 1 and September 13, 2026, according to the Uttarakhand Forest Department. Of these, 112 were venomous, including 62 cobras, 41 common kraits, six Sind kraits, two Russell's vipers and one king cobra. Most rescues occurred during the monsoon, when flooded burrows drive snakes into residential areas. Officials noted that venomous snakes were more frequent in peripheral areas adjoining forests, while central Dehradun rescues involved mostly non-venomous species. Divisional Forest Officer Vaibhav Kumar Singh said the department is studying the pattern. Non-venomous rat snakes formed the largest group at 230 rescues, followed by water snakes and trinket snakes. Rescuer Sudarshan Panwar handled the highest number of cases at 265, followed by Pravesh Kumar with 131. Snake-catching expert Arshad Alam said monsoon rains and prey movement bring snakes into populated areas. The department continues to monitor human-snake conflict in the region. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The data shows that venomous snakes now make up 21% of rescues, a proportion that may grow as Dehradun's urban sprawl pushes into forest fringes. Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, all snakes listed in Schedule I, including cobras and kraits, are protected and cannot be killed, making rescue the only legal option. The Uttarakhand Forest Department coordinates with local snake-catchers, but there is no formal city-wide protocol for rapid response. The key figure to watch is the year-end rescue total and whether the share of venomous species rises further in 2027. ## Coverage - newindianexpress.com Tags: Arshad Alam, Dehradun, Uttarakhand Forest Department, Vaibhav Kumar Singh Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/dehradun-outskirts-see-542-snakes-rescued-112-venomous-this-year/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/dehradun-outskirts-see-542-snakes-rescued-112-venomous-this-year/#story-in-brief