Bhubaneswar: Personnel of Khariar Fire Station carried out a successful joint rescue operation at Birighat River near Daragaon village under Boden block in Nuapada district on Wednesday, bringing 27 stranded people safely to shore, officials said. The rescued include 20 males, four females and three children.
Though initial reports suggested only eight people were trapped, rescue teams continued the search and evacuated all 27 stranded individuals, preventing any loss of life.
Officials said the operation was conducted swiftly and efficiently. “The prompt response and coordinated efforts of the rescue team helped avert any loss of life,” a Fire Services official stated.
A 24×7 control room is operational at the district level for the convenience of the people. The District Collector Madhusudan Das has informed that assistance can be obtained by contacting the number 06678-225357 in any emergency situation.
Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said 123 response teams have been strategically deployed across flood-prone and vulnerable locations in the state. The deployment includes 6 teams of NDRF, 14 teams of ODRAF and about 103 Fire Services teams. Patil added that senior IAS officers have also been assigned to monitor the situation and coordinate field-level response in close coordination with district administrations.
In a separate operation, personnel of Bheden Fire Station rescued two persons and 12 sheep during a rescue operation at Rugdi Bargaon under Bheden Police Station in Bargarh district.
“The timely response and coordinated efforts of the Fire Services personnel ensured the safe evacuation of all rescued persons and livestock, preventing any loss of life,” officials said.
With heavy rains continuing in several parts of the state, authorities said rescue and relief operations are being intensified in affected districts.
