Three farmers rescued in Bijapur

MAROONED: Fire and Emergency Services personnel and Home Guards rescuing farmers from the Doni river at Sangapur village in Bijapur on Wednesday.

Bijapur: After six hours of rescue operations, the district administration, the Fire and Emergency Services personnel and the Home Guards were successful in saving three farmers, who were stuck in the flood waters of the Doni river at Sangapur village in Bijapur taluk on Wednesday. According to eye witnesses, Umesh Kastureppa Kasturi, Adiveppa Kasturi and Golappa Ningappa Hirekurubar went to their farm on the banks of Doni early on Wednesday. Around 7 a.m., the Doni waters entered the fields in the surrounding areas giving them no chance to escape. Sensing trouble, the farmers climbed a nearby tree and informed their family members and friends about their condition through their mobile phone. The villagers informed a nearby police station about the incident and by 10 a.m., a team of Home Guards, Fire and Emergency personnel, police officers and doctors rushed to the spot under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Y.S. Patil. The Home Guards and the Fire and Emergency Services personnel had a tough time in crossing the river as the water was flowing very fast. However, they managed to reach the other end of the river with a rope where the farmers were sitting on the tree. The farmers were brought to safety one by one with the help of the supporting rope. By 3.30 p.m., the farmers were brought to safe places and first aid was provided to them on the spot. The doctors examined all three persons. Mr. Patil told The Hindu that the people of the villages residing on the banks of the Doni had been told to move to safe places at Sangapur village as the situation may further worsen if the rainfall continued. Crops worth crores of rupees had been washed away in the floods and water had already entered some houses on the banks of the river, he added.