WATCH: Woman, baby stranded on raging waterfall, video goes viral

In a display of extreme courage, forest department officials in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu rescued a mother and her child from the gushing water of the Anaivari Muttal falls.

The Anaivari Muttal falls is a popular tourist destination. However, due to heavy rains, there was a flash flood. The video of the rescue operation has gone viral where the woman is seen precariously balancing herself and her baby on a rock. 

The forest department officials rescued them by using a rope and climbing slippery rocks. Anxious onlookers are seen waiting with bated breath for the two to be rescued.

This daring act has earned praises from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who took to Twitter and wrote: "The courageous act of those who saved the mother and daughter is commendable." He also said that the officials will be honoured.

தாயையும் சேயையும் காப்பாற்றியவர்களின் தீரமிக்க செயல் பாராட்டுக்குரியது; அரசால் சிறப்பிக்கப்படுவார்கள்.

தன்னுயிர் பாராது பிறரது உயிர் காக்க துணிந்த அவர்களது தீரத்தில் மனிதநேயமே ஒளிர்கிறது!

பேரிடர்களின்போது பொதுமக்கள் கவனமுடன் இருக்க வேண்டும்.

பண்புடையார்ப் பட்டுண்டு உலகம்! pic.twitter.com/NRCb8OE8l3

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 26, 2021

The News Minute quoted Salem’s District Forest Officer (DFO) K Gowtham as saying that the waterfall is formed by rainwater from the Kallavarayan hills. If rainfall occurs in the Karumandurai region, on the other side of the Kalvarayan hill, it would be unknown to the people on this side of the hill. Heavy rains can lead to flash flood-like situations within half an hour, the DFO said, but the water levels were higher than previous times on Monday, he added. 

 According to the DFO, the forest officials were trained to carry out such rescue missions.