Fire brigade rescues devotees trapped in rising waters in northern India
by Bhagyashree BarmanA major accident was averted when six devotees got trapped in the strong current of the Baner Khad river in northern India’s Himachal Pradesh.
The incident took place in Kangra city on July 2.
Visuals showed officials wearing life jackets rescuing the individuals stuck in the water struggling hard to keep afloat, a scary site to witness for the onlookers.
According to reports, the quick response of the local fire brigade team ensured the safe rescue of all trapped individuals.
Fire officer Ashok Kumar, whose office is located near Baner Khad, noticed the rising water levels early in the morning. He observed hundreds of devotees on the riverbanks, with some already bathing in the water. Realizing the danger, Kumar promptly alerted his team and rushed to the scene.
Using ropes, the fire brigade team managed to pull the six trapped devotees to safety. Kumar emphasized that the proximity of the fire department office to Baner Khad played a crucial role in preventing a major disaster.
Following the incident, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kangra arrived at the site with a police team. The SDM has issued a warning to the public, urging them to avoid bathing in Baner Khad during the rainy season to prevent similar incidents. The warning comes as a reminder that over a dozen people lose their lives each year while bathing in Baner Khad, including a recent fatality of a young man from Rainhan.