NDRF rescues five people stranded in rising Kankawati River in Gujarat's Morbi
Morbi, August 2
The National Disaster Response Force successfully rescued five people on Saturday evening after they were stranded due to the rising water levels of the Kankawati River due to incessant rainfall in the Halvad area of Gujarat's Morbi district.
The rescue operation was launched after the local administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) found it difficult to reach the stranded individuals due to the intense water current and high water levels.
Speaking to ANI about the operation, Halvad Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dharmik Dobariya said that the individuals had been trapped since the afternoon.
"... People had been stranded there since the afternoon. Earlier, teams from the SDRF and the local Fire Department reached the spot, but the strong current and high water level prevented rescue. The NDRF was then called in. By the time its team arrived, the water flow had reduced slightly. With the help of its specialised equipment and personnel, all five people were rescued safely," the SDM said.
NDRF Officer SN Parikh, who coordinated the effort, detailed the logistical challenges faced by the team due to the difficult terrain and flooded roads.
"Around 7:50 pm, I received information from the SDRF that five people were stranded at one location in Morbi district. I immediately coordinated with the concerned officer. We discussed the situation and decided that if our vehicle could not reach the spot, a tractor would be arranged in advance," Parikh told ANI.
He further said, "By the time our team arrived, the tractors were already in place. The final stretch was difficult as the area was flooded and the terrain was challenging, which caused a slight delay. Despite this, we carried out the rescue operation successfully and brought five people to safety."
A day earlier, in a separate incident, the fire department successfully rescued three people who were stranded near the Auranga River crossing in flood-hit Valsad, officials said.
Deputy DM Vimal Patel said the three individuals had gone to a bridge connecting Valsad city with a nearby village when they became stranded due to flooding in the surrounding area.
The rescue operation was launched after the authorities received a distress call regarding the stranded individuals. The fire department team reached the spot and successfully brought them to safety.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Hats off to the NDRF team! But I must say, the government needs to work on better flood management systems in Gujarat. Every year we see these rescue operations in Morbi and surrounding areas. While we appreciate the rescue efforts, we should also focus on preventive measures like proper drainage systems and timely warnings to citizens.
God bless our rescue heroes! ❤️ It's heartwarming to see how quickly NDRF responded. The idea to arrange tractors in advance shows their brilliant planning and local knowledge. Gujarat is experiencing heavy rainfall this year, and our disaster management teams are doing an outstanding job despite the challenges.
Impressive coordination between different disaster response units. The NDRF's professionalism and quick thinking in using tractors to overcome the terrain issue is exactly what good disaster management looks like. India's emergency response systems have improved significantly over the years.
Great job by NDRF, but we should also appreciate the local people who likely alerted authorities. In our villages, community support is the first line of defense. The fact that tractors were arranged suggests excellent local coordination. We need more awareness about flood safety, especially in areas prone to such situations. 👏
This highlights the importance of having well-equipped disaster response teams. The NDRF's specialized equipment and training clearly made the difference here. Also good to see the fire department's rescue in Valsad - coordinated efforts across districts show how seriously India takes disaster management.
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