Shah Rukh Khan’s home gets an unexpected visitor: 2 snakes crash Mannat a day after Nag Panchami

What do you do when a snake turns up in your lawn?

What if there are two of them?

That was the unusual situation at Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s sea-facing Mumbai residence, Mannat, on Monday evening, when two snakes were reportedly spotted moving around the property in Bandra West.

Just a day after Nag Panchami.

A rescue operation was quickly launched. One snake was found. One was safely taken away. The other disappeared. And no, this isn't a scene from one of Shah Rukh Khan's films.

So, what happened at Mannat?

According to a report shared by Hindustan Times, snake rescuer Vicky Dubey received a call at around 8 pm on August 17 after two snakes were spotted on the premises of Mannat. Dubey alerted Forest Department officials, including Forest Department Round Officer Deepak Dada Gaikwad and the Mumbai Range Office in Thane, before heading to the property.

The search soon found one of the reptiles hiding beneath a staircase in the courtyard. It was a Dhaman, or Indian rat snake. And it was a big one.

The rescued snake was reported to be around eight feet long.

Was the snake dangerous?

Here's where the story gets a little less alarming. The rescued Dhaman is non-venomous. The snake reportedly appeared frightened and was coiled beneath the staircase. It was safely rescued and later released into its natural habitat in accordance with Forest Department guidelines.

So the dramatic-looking visitor wasn't a venomous snake waiting to strike. It was a rat snake — a species commonly found in India and known for living around human habitation as well as agricultural and other environments.

But what happened to the second snake?

This is where the rescue operation became a little more complicated.

The second snake reportedly escaped from the bungalow premises after noticing people moving around the area. Search efforts continued, but it had not been located by the time the reports were published.

So, as of the latest available information, one snake has been rescued and released. The other is still missing.

Mannat, officially known as Mannat Land’s End, is one of Mumbai's most recognisable celebrity residences, with fans routinely gathering outside the Bandra landmark.

Which makes the idea of two snakes quietly turning up on its grounds all the more unexpected.

Why do snakes sometimes turn up around homes?

The Mannat incident also arrives during Mumbai's monsoon season, when encounters between people and snakes can become more common. Rain can disturb snakes' usual hiding places and push them towards drier shelter. Homes, gardens and other built-up areas can offer exactly that.

But there is an important lesson here too: spotting a snake doesn't mean it should be approached or killed.

The Mannat rescue was handled by a trained rescuer in coordination with Forest Department officials, and the rescued snake was released back into its natural habitat.

For now, however, one question remains.

Where is the second snake?

The search may have ended at Mannat for the night, but the property apparently still has one very elusive visitor somewhere out there.

One snake was under the staircase. The other simply slipped away.