Vadodara: Plucky cops save 73 locals stranded in floodwaters

In a daring rescue effort, sub-inspector Govind Chavda and his team of seven rescued 73 people stranded in their houses in flood-ravaged Vadodara.

When news of water from overflowing Vishwamitri entering Devpura reached Vadodara City police late on Wednesday night, a team of Raopura police station including Chavda was deployed to rescue people.

When they reached the spot, they found that the locals had climbed on the terraces of their half-submerged houses, waiting to be rescued. Without wasting time, Chavda jumped in the water and reached at the spot to bring them back to safety.

"Most of them were children and senior citizens. Will the help of some locals, we managed to build support using beds and started the rescue operation," said the PSI.

"I had a team of 7 people who were helping me with the resucue mission. Apart from me, two cops knew how to swim a little; but due to heavy flow, I asked them to stay on ground," he added.

Among the trapped locals was a 45-day-old baby. Chawda wrapped the baby in warm clothes and carried it to safety on his head in a bucket. Another 80-year-old cancer patient who could barely walk was also rescued on a wooden bed.