4 youths cling to tree, escape being swept away to Pakistan

BATHINDA / CHANDIGARH / GURDASPUR: A dramatic rescue unfolded on the flooded India-Pakistan border Wednesday as an NDRF team raced to save four youngsters, including a 16-year-old boy, clinging to a eucalyptus tree while surrounded by raging floodwater.The boy had been swept away by floodwater at Fazilka's Teja Rohella village, situated on the Zero Line. Three youngsters tried to save him but all four were swept away in the current. They would have been swept into Pakistan but for the eucalyptus tree, which they clung to for dear life.A fortnight ago, villagers had banded together to pull back a boat that was being swept into Pakistan.Even as the border rescue was on, 300km away in Gurdaspur, it was touch and go for about 400 students and 40 staff members of a residential school as floodwater inundated the ground floor.

All of them clambered to the first floor and watched with trepidation as the floodwater continued to rise. Rescue teams from Army and NDRF sped to the school on boats and carried them to safety.Following heavy rainfall and release of dam water, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Daburi was inundated. Though Punjab government has ordered all schools shut till Aug 30 due to flood fears, all students of the boarding school were on campus.

Heavy rainfall added to Punjab's flood fears, particularly in border districts of Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran. Punjab recorded 243% excess rainfall in a 24-hour period - 14.4mm against the usual 4.2mm. The entire region is being pounded by rain. Haryana recorded 247% excess rain and Himachal Pradesh 118%.Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann deployed his government helicopter for flood relief efforts after witnessing first-hand the plight of residents. "The people who gave our party 92 seats and gave me the services of the helicopter, I am handing it over to them," Mann said.