In a striking video from Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the principal of a medical college, Rajesh Kumar, is seen sitting on a stretcher while four men push it through a flooded street. The area has been heavily inundated due to continuous rain, leading to significant flooding in various parts of the city.
Rajesh Kumar, dressed in a shirt and trousers and covering his face with a handkerchief, appeared to be avoiding getting his clothes wet. Reports suggest he had arranged for four men to transport him on the stretcher. However, the principal has criticized the video, claiming it misrepresents the situation.
“A video is going viral which shows me being taken out on a stretcher. I condemn this video. Shahjahanpur is flooded. Even our college is flooded. Around 300 patients, working staff members, and others are stuck here. We evacuated all the patients, using ambulances and buses,” Mr. Kumar stated.
He explained that the rising water levels prompted him to seek transportation out of the college. “I tried if I could get an ambulance to get out. I have a leg injury and am also diabetic, due to which I am unable to walk. I spoke to my working staff members, and they said they would take me out of the medical college on a stretcher,” Mr. Kumar defended his actions.
The flooding has also impacted traffic on the Lucknow-Bareilly highway in Shahjahanpur, with a significant portion of the road underwater. State Relief Commissioner Naveen Kumar mentioned that teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are working with local authorities to address flood-related issues. Additionally, flood relief camps have been established for those affected by the flooding.