Passengers were shocked to spot a massive python at a railway station.

Though the 15-foot-long monster triggered alarm, the panic quickly subsided after people realised that it was focused on crawling up pillar to get to the terrace.

The python even drew a crowd of bystanders, who watched it inch slowly towards the top.

One of them informed the forest officials, who rushed to the station and rescued it. They released it in the wild later.

The incident occurred at Katra station in Jammu and Kashmir, India, on October 18.

Katra station is an important stop for millions of pilgrims heading to Vaishnov Devi shrine in the lower Himalayas.

Officials said they had no idea how the python managed to get inside the crowded railway station.