MUMBAI: A five-year-old girl who fell into an overflowing nullah while fleeing her home with family during a flash flood at
Dahanu in Palghar district of Maharashtra in the wee of Wednesday was found clinging onto a tree for over four hours when help arrived.
Mamta Lalka, whose swimming skills helped her stay afloat, will be recommended for a state and central government bravery award by the Palghar district administration.
As rains lashed Dahanu taluka, Mamta, along with her parents and two siblings, were forced to leave their thatched home located on a field in Shensari village at around 2am. They were walking to safety as the village got flooded.
Mamta’s father Vijay was leading the family as he walked with a torch in the darkness. As they were crossing an overflowing nullah, Mamta slipped and fell into the water. The family raised an alarm and even launched a search for the girl but in vain. Vijay said that the search operation was made difficult due to heavy rains and pitch darkness. The family had given up on finding their daughter. The Kasa police were informed at around 3am.
“Vijay called us in the wee hours and narrated the night episode. We reached the spot and a search operation was carried out by the police with help from locals. The girl was found clinging onto a tree branch around 400 meteres away from where she had fallen," said Rahul Sarang, Dahanu Tehsildar.
The rescue team, led by Kasa incharge assistant inspector Siddhwa Jaybhaje, reached the spot in about 30 minutes. The search continued through the wee hours. At around 6am, a local heard the cry of the child and alerted the rescuers. A group of young boys entered the water with ropes tied around their waists. Mamta who had held onto the branches for over four hours was rushed to the Saiwan government hospital. Doctors said that the girl was dehydrated and was administered saline but her overall health is perfect.
Mamta told her rescuers that she was carried away by the current but got hold of the first tree that came her way. Rescuers said that while the girl was visibly exhausted, having spent several hours in the cold, she did not look frightened.
The revenue department will survey Mamta’s hut and will seek compensation for the family from the government.