Heart-rending sights at disaster-hit valley met the eyes of some of strict and courageous police officers who remain firm during any odd situation. The appalling scenes left the emotions of police officials at low ebb.
The rescue personnel watched a woman jumping into a river from a hill as soon as her daughter was drowned after falling from the spot where the duo took shelter after the disaster. The woman didn't give chance to the rescue team members to reach her. Seconds after her daughter had fallen into the river, she plunged into it. Similarly, some of the parents requested the rescue personnel to shift first their children to the safer places. They beseeched like anything. The rescue team members had rescued the children and their parents to the safer places together.
Superintendent of Police (State Crime Record Bureau) Nilesh Anand Bharne, who had been at Guptkashi since June 19 and stayed in disaster-hit areas till July 1, also witnessed several such scenes. The appalling scenes left the officer, known for his courage among his colleagues, choked with emotions.
"Several people left their elderly parents behind in disaster-hit valley and moved ahead for their lives. Such people gave a shattering account when they were rescued. There are innumerable wrenching stories," Bharne said.
It was painful to see the people in such a shocking condition created by the disaster. "We consoled them and tried to extend relief to them," the officer said. He also camped near the temple for two days. At present, the valley bore a deserted look. "Several elderly people narrated a heart-rending account that moistened the eyes of the rescue team personnel," the officer said, adding that the flash flood ravaged everything in Rambara and wreaked havoc around the temple. The scene ahead of Gauri Kund is dreadful.
He also praised deputy commandant of PAC Navneet Singh Bhullar for doing an excellent job during rescue operation. When contacted, Bhullar said, "Police delivered only its duty. We tried to deliver our best during emergency hour. Still I am at Gauri Kund," Bhullar said.
For the officer, working as a member of the rescue team was first experience. "After being rescued when people got in touch with the members of their families, they were filled with emotions. Some of them cried on phone when they spoke to their kin on phone. All of them considered themselves lucky to survive the disaster," the young officer said. He further added that seeing them leaving for their homes was an emotional experience.