The Hindu : Front Page : IAF rescues four marooned persons on Amaravathy bank

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 12, 2005

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IAF rescues four marooned persons on Amaravathy bank

M. Gunasekaran

They were caught in the water released from Amaravathy dam

RESCUE MISSION: An Indian Air Force helicopter on its way to rescue four marooned persons near Udumalpet on Sunday.

UDUMALPET: Four persons caught in the gushing waters of the Amaravathy river for nearly 10 hours were rescued by the Indian Air Force on Sunday morning at Perumalpudur, 17 km from here.

According to sources, M. Kumar (28), S. Ramu (19), S. Venkatachalam (40) of Pollachi and B. Saibu (24) of Palakkad were camping on the bank of the Amaravathy at Perumalpudur on Saturday night.

Following widespread rain in the catchment areas, authorities released 15,000 cusecs of surplus water from the Amaravathy dam around 2.30 a.m. on Sunday.

All four were marooned. Hugging one another they clung on to a tree.

On Sunday morning, people on the other bank spotted them. The police and fire and rescue service rushed to the spot but could not reach them due to the strong current. Collector S. Kosalaraman then sought the help of the IAF.

On orders from Group Captain S.N. Mohanty of 43 Wing Air Force, an MI-8, helicopter of The Knights 109 Helicopter Unit, piloted by Wing Commander S. Kundu, co-pilot Flying Officer A.P. Rehswal and two other crew members took off from the Sulur Air Base at 9.30 a.m. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Udumalpet, A. Gopal, and Thali Inspector of police Easwaramurthy joined them in the rescue effort.

The IAF personnel rescued the marooned persons one by one and brought them to the Sainik school grounds helipad around 10.50 a.m.

They were given first aid at Udumalpet Government Hospital. A senior official suspected that the group might have been on their way to the forest for smuggling sandalwood.

An enquiry revealed that their claim of having gone fishing was not true. No case has been registered.

Water level

The water level in the reservoir touched 88 feet as against the full capacity of 90 feet on Sunday evening.

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