Struggle for life
– Photo: Amar Ujala
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For five days, two youths were trying to save their lives by swimming in Yamuna river which was in spate due to floods, but could not reach the shore. Eventually both of them got tired and took support on a tree. Stayed in this position for many hours. Meanwhile, the rescue team, which went on a rapid tour, caught sight of them. They were rescued.
The team told that the heartbeat of both the youth was fast due to the fear of disaster. After the rescue, they could not even tell properly that how they got stuck there. Tehsildar Vinod Kumar Singh went inside the Yamuna on a rapid tour with Delhi Police personnel at around seven o’clock on Friday evening. Then suddenly the light of the torch fell on these two youths. Both of them were taking support on a dry tree.
After the rescue, they could only tell that their slums were on the DND side, where they had gone to collect their valuables. But he got tired while swimming and his mind started getting numb. When he saw that the sun was setting and it was about to get dark, he climbed a tree for fear of drowning and snakes.
Five thousand lives saved: DDMA’s rescue team carried out rescue and relief work day and night on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Animals including humans were also saved. A team of police and district administration also saved lives by going into the Yamuna in boats. On the other hand, NDRF boats and rescue teams continuously brought people out of Yamuna safely.
According to the district administration, about five thousand people and more than one thousand dogs and cows have been saved in this rescue operation. At the same time, force had to be used to save hundreds of people. These people were not ready to come out even in such a dire situation.
Boats are at risk of sinking at every step: In the flooded Khadar area, farmers have cordoned off their fields with barbed wires. These barbed wire can puncture the air inflatable boat at any time. Vinod Kumar told that two of his boats have been punctured.