Madhya Pradesh: Man who saved 20 lives washed away in nullah

Bhopal: A youth waged a heroic battle against nature’s fury to rescue 20 people including an elderly woman from a flooded nullah here but could not save him.

Twenty one-year-old Deepak Sahu was swept away by the swirling waters of the flooded nullah barely after he evacuated a 55-year-old woman, one of the 20 people trapped in a marooned slum here, to safety, even as his fiancée looked on.

The capital city witnessed the heartrending incident early on Sunday morning. “He lost his balance while pulling the elderly woman, Kamala Bai, out of water and was washed away in the nullah. All the 20 people rescued by him remained mute spectators to the tragic incident”, Deepak’s brother Pradip, who was also saved by him, told this newspaper.

While he was pulling out an elderly woman, the last person to be saved from Rajiv Nagar slum, of water when he slipped and was swept away in the flooded nullah.

Rajnath Singh speaks to MP CM, takes stock of situation
Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday spoke to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and took stock of the situation arising out of the floods in the state.

During the telephonic conversation, Mr Chouhan briefed the home minister about the prevailing situation and the steps taken to give succor to the marooned people, official sources said. Mr Singh assured the Chief Minister all central help in rescue and relief of flood affected people.

The death toll due to flood-related mishaps has gone up to 15 in the state. Seven persons died due to flood in different parts of the state in last 24 hours.

On Saturday, the Chief Minister said eight persons had died due to the heavy downpour in last couple of days. The heavy rains had earlier thrown normal life out of gear.