Drunk man rescued from bridge pier on highway in southern India
by Bhagyashree BarmanA drunk man stranded on one of the piers of the Kollidam bridge on a national highway in southern India’s Tamil Nadu was rescued by Srirangam fire and rescue services personnel.
The incident took place on the Trichy-Chennai National Highway across Kollidam river in Trichy district on August 1.
Visuals showed a firefighter rescuing the man using ropes amidst the rapidly overflowing waters.
The man, identified as S Sasikumar, 60, of Sappani Koil Street in Lalgudi, was unaware of the surplus discharge of Cauvery water into the Kollidam river when he decided to sleep below the bridge. Around 1 am, as the water flow gradually increased, Sasikumar woke up and found himself marooned on the pier.
Morning walkers noticed the stranded man around 6 am and alerted the Srirangam fire service station. A team of firefighters, led by station fire officer L Sagayaraj, special fire officer S Ganesan, and firefighter C Arunkumar, rushed to the scene and rescued Sasikumar using safety ropes.
The rescue operation took approximately 45 minutes. Fire and rescue services personnel reported that Sasikumar was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
This incident highlights the dangers of being unaware of changing river conditions, especially during times of high water discharge. Local authorities have urged the public to exercise caution and avoid sleeping near riverbanks and bridges.