Khamano SDM jumps into flood waters to save youth in Punjab

Government officials in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib town were stunned when they saw the Sub Divisional Magistrate suddenly dive into the deep water of a flash flood to save a man trapped by waters that were at least 15 feet deep. Subdivisional Magistrate Sanjeev Kumar jumped into the water to save a man on Monday in Fategarh Sahib while heavy rains lashed the state.
“The area near the Bibangarh gurdwara was flooded with water and the water level was increasing. An NDRF team had yet to reach the spot but the boy had got stuck in one corner in neck-deep water and he was panicking. So I decided to jump into the water rather than keep waiting for the NDRF team. He was stuck near a pole. I swam around 400 metres and took him out,” Kumar said. “I am the SDM for Khamano but on Monday I was in Fatehgarh Sahib as I had been called by the deputy commissioner to discuss the grim situation in the town and the villages around it. I have worked at Fatehgarh Sahib in the past,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner Parneet Shergill said that she and the SDM were discussing about the flood-relief work when a few people came seeking help for two men stuck in floodwater. They were in their mid-20s. “Sanjeev went to see the situation and he jumped inside to save them. When they started walking, the boys couldn’t realise that the water would rise to their necks. Sanjeev saved one and the other one managed to come out after gaining some confidence,” she said. The SDM said that he returned to work immediately after rescuing the man. On Wednesday morning, Shergill posted a video of the rescue operation on social media and praised the SDM’s efforts and bravery.