Bhimsen Maharana, an engineer Kuakhia in eastern India, was shocked to find a cobra trapped in the compressor unit of the AC fitted in his bedroom on September 15.

He called Snake Helpline for help, and a volunteer, Tapan Kumar Prusty, went to rescue the snake.

Tapan found that no technician came forward to dismantle the compressor unit as the snake had popped its head out menacingly.

Thinking out of the box, Tapan found a one inch diameter PVC pipe and put it around the cobra’s head to restrain it to allow a technician to dismantle the unit.

He then caught the tail of the snake and gently tickled it. The 3.5 feet cobra moved quickly and came out at the other end of the pipe.

Tapan then captured the cobra and released in a suitable natural habitat.

Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of Snake Helpline said "Tapan was calm and showed a terrific presence of mind. His clever trick worked and the snake was rescued.”