In this clip by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, a banded krait is seen swimming in dark flowing water, its distinctive black and yellow stripes clearly visible in the torchlight.

A post by an Indian Forest Service officer has gone viral on social media. In the post, the officer tweeted a video titled "X," in which he spotted a highly venomous snake during a night patrol. The video quickly went viral on social media, leaving many stunned by the snake's beauty.

In this clip by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, a banded krait is seen swimming in dark flowing water, its distinctive black and yellow stripes clearly visible in the light of a torch. This short video quickly caught the attention of viewers and has been viewed more than 177,000 times on the platform. Kaswan explained

This amazing sight during night patrolling
in his caption, "These beautiful bands, the banded krait is a very venomous snake found in India. I accidentally found it during night patrolling, how did nature give them such distinct stripes."

The banded krait is one of India's most venomous snakes and primarily emerges at night, making it more likely to be spotted during night patrols. It is reportedly still quite rare.

Those beautiful bands. Banded krait is highly venomous snake found in India. Found this randomly during night patrolling. How nature provided them so distinct bands !! pic.twitter.com/it2s1vf8yY

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) December 28, 2025

Social media users reacted
with surprise, humor, and personal experiences. One user commented, "Maybe those stripes are nature's way of saying appreciate it responsibly," to which Kaswan replied, "Or maybe ma'am; be safe. Be careful." Another viewer praised the visuals, writing, "Beautiful capture. Like a moving danger sign."

Not everyone found the sight comforting. One user shared a frightening experience, saying, "Sir, are you sure it's beautiful? Once, during an evening walk, I saw one just a few feet away, and my soul was saying, 'Should I leave now?'" Others drew comparisons to human-made designs, with one commenting, "Even our roads, dividers, don't have stripes this spectacular."

Venomous Banded Krait X

Main characteristics:

• Appearance: Thick body with broad black and pale yellow/white bands, triangular cross-section, small head and paddle-like tail.
• Poison: Very potent neurotoxin (neurotoxic) that attacks the nervous system, causing muscle paralysis, respiratory arrest, and death.
• Behavior: Calm, not aggressive, and primarily active at night; bites are rare but can be dangerous if provoked.
• Habitat and diet: Found in lowlands, forests, swamps, and mangroves; it feeds on other snakes, frogs, fish, and rats.
• Range: Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and southern China.

Danger to humans:

• Despite its peaceful nature, its venom is very potent, and its bite can be fatal.
• It is most dangerous at night when it is active, so caution is advised during nocturnal activities in its habitat.

 PC:India Daily