E-Paper
Locals lend hand to rescue operations
MAHAD (RAIGAD): When National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Coast Guards and local police were carrying out gruelling searches in the Savitri river to recover
MAHAD (RAIGAD): When National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Coast Guards and local police were carrying out gruelling searches in the Savitri river to recover the missing after the Mahad bridge collapse, the local famers too extended a helping hand in the rescue operations.
“A team of local people who are adept in sand dredging have been provided to the rescue teams by the collector’s office and they are helping us. We have also put fishing nets up to four kms from that spot expecting the bodies will get stuck in them,” said Anupam Srivastav, commandant of NDRF.
Also, a team of 60 Konkan railway officials helped the NDRF officials in the operation. “We have arranged for lighting in the area at night. We are also helping the NDRF with under water operations as we have trained divers. We are also providing medical treatment to the injured,” said K Seshagiri, a section engineer of Konkan railway.
Meanwhile, during the operations, a boat with around seven NDRF officials capsized in the river. The officials managed to reach the shore but one of them sustained injuries.
“Our 160 officials are putting their entire effort in these operations. We found something concrete under water near the bridge. We are trying to pull it and have attached hooks to it. But we have been gentle enough as we have heard that there is a water pipeline in that area which supplies water to around 14 villages. If the pipeline gets damaged, the villagers will suffer,” said Srivastav.
