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Two school buses from Eischer Public School, Faridabad, were stuck on the flooded underpass at Mehrauli-Badarpur road in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon. They had 125 children and 18 adults including teachers and school staff. While one of the buses was half immersed, the other was about to drown completely before a rescue team reached the spot. But thanks to the heroic action taken by police and fire department officials, everyone is safe now.

According to reports, the buses were taking the flooded underpass to reach Noida to attend a programme. Their engines broke down due to water-logging. The water level was rising rapidly and many of the children in the buses were less than 10 years old.

Teachers called the Police Control Room and the fire department, and the officials reached the spot within a few minutes.

Image for representation purposes only. Source: Flickr

Atul Garg, Chief of the Delhi Fire Services, told The Times of India that the half immersed bus was quickly towed out to safety. The other bus had submerged almost completely and the teachers and driver had helped some of the children make their way to the roof. The fire department officials formed teams. And one by one they carried more than 72 children on their backs, swimming to safety.

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“People also made a human chain to help the children. I am thankful to the policemen, firemen and all the people, including rickshaw pullers and passersby, who came forward to help the children,” Meenakshi Jetley, an academic coordinator who was on the bus told The Indian Express.

PCR personnel also played an important role in the rescue operation. A head constable named Murari Lal was exceptionally heroic. Seeing the children crying out for help, he jumped into the water and single-handedly rescued 16 of them.

With immense commitment and coordination, the team managed to finish the rescue operation within an hour.

Get details about contacting the Delhi Police, here.

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