Firemen, NDRF teams brave stench, floods to rescue residents

The Fire and Emergency Service personnel and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed after several areas in the city were flooded after incessant rains and breach of two tanks.

K U Ramesh, Director of Fire and Emergency Service told Deccan Herald, “We deployed 100 fire service personnel who were divided into several teams and sent to flooded areas.

Rescue operations began in the early hours in areas where people were stranded in their houses. Fortunately, there were no causalities and people are safe. Our priority is to make sure the needs of the people are met till the water level recedes.”

“Our men are working on various solutions to drain out the water. There is also heavy inflow from the drains and it needs to be contained,” he added.

Fire personnel went to flooded areas in the early hours on Friday and carried out rescue operations till night. Basavanna, Chief Fire Officer (CFO), East division, who was in charge of rescue operations in Kodichikkanahalli, said, “The fire personnel and NDRF personnel went to every house in rubber boats. We supplied food, drinking water, milk and medicines. People who wanted medical attention were immediately shifted to private hospitals on rubber boats.”

Rain water mixed with sewage made hampered rescue operations. An NDRF team member said, “Around 25 swimmers from the NDRF team were roped in. It is difficult to wade through the water, as the stench was unbearable. But we made sure that every resident was safe and basic necessities were supplied. As there was no power supply, we asked the residents to switch off their inverters to prevent short circuits.”

A senior fire officer said, “Inflow of water that was high in the morning, reduced towards the evening. The water cannot be pumped out as there is continuous inflow of water. We have to wait till the water recedes. BBMP and BWSSB officials were alerted to deploy their men to clean the clogged drains and stormwater drains. Most of them were choked with dirt and this resulted in flooding.”

Pets, residents shifted
Basavanna, said, “The residents asked us to help them shift their pets like dogs, cats, birds and other animals to a safer place. They alerted their friends and relatives and asked them meet them at a point. We reached the place by boat and handed the animals to them. Several residents also moved to their friends’ or relatives’ houses because of the stench in their flooded houses.”

Firemen’s phone numbers
Manoj Bhaskar, a resident of Kodichikkanahalli said, “As there was no electricity in the area, most of the residents mobiles phone went dead. The fire personnel gave us their mobile phones to contact our relatives and friends to let them know that they are safe. This was a great gesture from them and helped us in the hour of need.”

Personnel deployed
*Fire and Emergency Service personnel used – 100 along with 40 swimmers
*Senior fire officers – 24
*Fire tenders used – 14
*Flood rescue pumps – 3 big pumps and 5 small pumps
*Rubber boats – 4
*NDRF personnel – 25 swimmers and 3 boats
*SDRF personnel – 21

People rescued
*Kodicikkannahalli – 26
*Devarachikkanahalli – 20
*DLF Apartment near Bannerghatta Road – 17
*HSR Layout Sector 7 - 17