Hyderbad: It was a lucky Sunday for four-year-old C. Divya, who fell in a nala while playing with her friends, and was rescued by the fire department at Gowliguda on Sunday. The nala connects to the Musi river. Fortunately, she had fallen on a pile of garbage, and not into flowing water.
Divya and her parents, Chandrakanth, a carpenter, and Latha, a homemaker, stay 200 metres from the spot where Divya fell into the nala at Gurudwara Road, Gowliguda.
According to witness accounts, a hole had opened up over the nala which had got covered with debris following the heavy rain on Friday. When Divya stepped on it accidentally, she fell through the hole and into the nala.
Recalling the incident, Mr Chandrakanth said he had just returned home when he heard that a child had fallen into the nala. “I went to the spot and learnt that it was Divya. When I called out to her, she responded.”
Ms Latha said she suddenly noticed that her children Vennala, 8, and Divya were not at home. “When I searched for them I found them at a tiffin center having idli. I told them to come home but another child who was with them said she would bring them back.” The children did not come home. The next thing she heard was that Divya had fallen into the nala.
Passersby approached the Gowliguda fire station which is less than 15 metres away. Mr B. Kranthi Kumar, lead firefighter on Sunday, along with his crew comprising Suresh and Ramana rushed to the spot with a ladder, rope and a torch light. Mr Kumar entered the nala and rescued Divya.
Speaking about the operation, Mr Kumar said, “The nala is 12-foot deep. We heard Divya screaming from inside. She had fortunately fallen on a pile of garbage. If she had fallen on floating water, it would have been difficult to rescue her.”
Divya was given first aid and handed over to her parents. Mr Chandrakanth took her to a nearby doctor for first aid. Mr Chandrakanth went to the Afzalgunj police to lodge a complaint but returned as the station house officer was not present.
GHMC officials were not available for comment on the open hole.
