Nellore: Notwithstanding the heavy downpour and increasing water levels in streams, Gudur rural police led by circle inspector P. Srinivasa Reddy rescued more than 2,000 people and handled the challenging task of traffic control at the breached spot on the national highway right from November 16 night.
Recipient of DG award for his outstanding performance, the CI and his team rose to the occasion and almost worked round the clock under the supervision of Gudur DSP Srinivas.
In one of the risky acts, Mr Srinivasa Reddy's team woke up people sleeping in homes unaware about water entering their village Yachavaram from breached Manubolu tank after midnight on Tuesday and shifted them to safer places.
"There was resistance from public and we had a tough time in convincing them and to bring them out of homes in most of the places. However, they realised the situation only the next day when they found their homes under water. We hardly had any equipment and what we took was ropes and dragon lights for such operation till NDRF teams arrived," Mr Srinivasa Reddy said.
One of his team members and Saidapuram SI Edukondalu and his men rescued five persons sitting atop a DCM van after water surrounded the vehicle entire night. They have also saved 11 workers struck in a garden putting their lives at risk.
Similarly, Chillakur SI Ankamma and Gudur rural SI Jaganmohan Rao also rushed to the submerged areas at Paliche-rlapalem and saved watchmen guarding aqua ponds.
Similarly, Nellore one town inspector K. Narasimha Rao and his team jumped into action and shifted people living in marooned Mansoor Nagar area in Nellore.
"I tied a rope to a pole and started moving towards the inundated Mansoor Nagar main road as no one was ready to enter the water because of the force and depth on November 18. With the help of the rope we shifted the people from submerged houses. Mayor Abdul Azeez also joined us in the operation" Mr Narasimha Rao said.
Claiming that their men saved 8,900 flood victims during recent heavy rains, Guntur range IG N. Sanjay commended the officers and constables involved in the operation and he had a special appreciation for SP Gajarao Bhupal.
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