08-22-2006, 08:07 PM
For 8 hrs, this family cried for help; Minister, Rajasthan town watched them drown
Sandipan SharmaPosted online: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at 0000 hrs Print Email
Standing atop their vehicle, family kept calling for help
Related Stories After Surat flood, Sabarmati fears for state capital
Relief operations in MP gain pace as rains abate
Assam drought: 8 lakh families face starvation
Ethiopian floods feared to have killed 700
Water-proofing India
JAIPUR, AUGUST 21:Five persons of a family, trapped in a swollen river for eight hours, were swept away, one by one, while the entire town and the government machinery watched.
The victims, including a teenager, kept begging for help but not one came to their rescue. Among those looking on was Rajasthan Forest Minister Laxmi Narayan Dave.
Two soldiers, who were passing by, jumped into the river to try and rescue them. But one of the soldiers drowned immediately while the other was rescued after the waters receded.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening near Falna town, 300 km west of Jaipur.
The car in which Jodhpurâs Devi Lal, son Surendra, nephew Rajendra and relatives Anopram and Jhumar Raj were travelling was trapped in the overflowing Khari river near Falna.
The car got stuck on a bridge which would have taken them to a temple on the banks, their destination. There was nearly three feet of water on the bridge when they began crossing it.
Within seconds, the level rose and the car submerged completely, according to eyewitnesses. The passengers climbed atop the car and began screaming for help.
Since the river flows close to the town, hundreds of people gathered on the banks to watch the trapped passengers. But such was the ferocity of the water that nobody dared to take the plunge and go to their rescue.
The police arrived an hour later from two adjoining police stations, minus life-saving gear. Senior officials of the local administration too arrived at the spot but could do very little.
âSome people threw ropes at the passengers. But the river was nearly 200 feet wide and nothing was reaching them,â said Vijay Kumar, a local resident who took photographs of the trapped people.As the water kept rising, the family members clung to each other. Devi Lal clasped son Surendra to his chest. âThey kept screaming for help, asking people to dive into the water and save them. Nobody had the courage,â said Kumar.
Forest Minister Laxmi Narayan Dave, who was in the area, also reached the spot with a huge entourage. But all he could do was watch helplessly. Some local residents tried to put together a rescue act by stringing together lots of pipes, but they too failed.
Just as the sun began to fade, Surendra lost his grip and disappeared. His father dived after him, but did not return. The tragedy was complete in eight hours when the remaining members were also swept away, one after the other, amidst heart-rending wails and cries.
In Jaipur, officials said the Chief Secretary tried to organise a rescue effort.
âWe contacted the Air Force for help, requesting them to send a team in a chopper. But the helicopter could not take off because of dark clouds. An Army team was dispatched from Jodhpur. But the team got stuck in traffic jams on flooded roads. The river was so wide that it was impossible to throw a rope to the passengers,â an official said.
Sandipan SharmaPosted online: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at 0000 hrs Print Email
Standing atop their vehicle, family kept calling for help
Related Stories After Surat flood, Sabarmati fears for state capital
Relief operations in MP gain pace as rains abate
Assam drought: 8 lakh families face starvation
Ethiopian floods feared to have killed 700
Water-proofing India
JAIPUR, AUGUST 21:Five persons of a family, trapped in a swollen river for eight hours, were swept away, one by one, while the entire town and the government machinery watched.
The victims, including a teenager, kept begging for help but not one came to their rescue. Among those looking on was Rajasthan Forest Minister Laxmi Narayan Dave.
Two soldiers, who were passing by, jumped into the river to try and rescue them. But one of the soldiers drowned immediately while the other was rescued after the waters receded.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening near Falna town, 300 km west of Jaipur.
The car in which Jodhpurâs Devi Lal, son Surendra, nephew Rajendra and relatives Anopram and Jhumar Raj were travelling was trapped in the overflowing Khari river near Falna.
The car got stuck on a bridge which would have taken them to a temple on the banks, their destination. There was nearly three feet of water on the bridge when they began crossing it.
Within seconds, the level rose and the car submerged completely, according to eyewitnesses. The passengers climbed atop the car and began screaming for help.
Since the river flows close to the town, hundreds of people gathered on the banks to watch the trapped passengers. But such was the ferocity of the water that nobody dared to take the plunge and go to their rescue.
The police arrived an hour later from two adjoining police stations, minus life-saving gear. Senior officials of the local administration too arrived at the spot but could do very little.
âSome people threw ropes at the passengers. But the river was nearly 200 feet wide and nothing was reaching them,â said Vijay Kumar, a local resident who took photographs of the trapped people.As the water kept rising, the family members clung to each other. Devi Lal clasped son Surendra to his chest. âThey kept screaming for help, asking people to dive into the water and save them. Nobody had the courage,â said Kumar.
Forest Minister Laxmi Narayan Dave, who was in the area, also reached the spot with a huge entourage. But all he could do was watch helplessly. Some local residents tried to put together a rescue act by stringing together lots of pipes, but they too failed.
Just as the sun began to fade, Surendra lost his grip and disappeared. His father dived after him, but did not return. The tragedy was complete in eight hours when the remaining members were also swept away, one after the other, amidst heart-rending wails and cries.
In Jaipur, officials said the Chief Secretary tried to organise a rescue effort.
âWe contacted the Air Force for help, requesting them to send a team in a chopper. But the helicopter could not take off because of dark clouds. An Army team was dispatched from Jodhpur. But the team got stuck in traffic jams on flooded roads. The river was so wide that it was impossible to throw a rope to the passengers,â an official said.