Damanganga water level rises suddenly; 9 stranded, airlifted

Nine persons were today airlifted after they got stranded on a rock in the middle of Damanganga river in the district as its water level rose suddenly due to rains in neighbouring Maharashtra.
Police said an Indian Coast Guard (ICG) helicopter airlifted them after they remained stranded on the rock for several hours in the middle of the overflowing river near Bari Kachigam village at Umargam tehsil.
"These persons were searching for the body of a boy from the same village who drowned in it a day ago. However, as the rains continued, the water level increased in the river even before they could come out, and were thus left stranded there," Valsad Superintendent of Police Prem Vir Singh said.

"They climbed on a rock in the middle of the river and stayed there for hours before police arrived. When police called local fire department team, they said they will not be able to rescue them, upon which the ICG was asked to provide a helicopter to bring them out," Singh added.
According to the officer, the rescue operation involving the helicopter went on for nearly an hour.