Six journalists, trapped on the riverside in Sukma, rescued following four hours efforts by villagers

Raipur: According to information, six journalists got stuck on one side due to the strong current of the river while they were returning after completing their assignment on Naxal issues on Monday.

When the six journalists reached the river bank they saw the water level of the river was swelling and the water current was considerably high. As they got stuck on one side of the river, the villagers on the other side got information about it and they immediately reached the spot and helped the journalists cross the river using rope and other means. It took around 4 hours to rescue the journalists, said sources.

The journalists of the district had gone for the coverage of Naxal news in Atulpara of Polampally police station area of Sukma district crossing the river. There is neither a road nor a bridge across the river to reach Atulpara. To highlight the issues related to the farmers, the journalists crossed the river falling between Polampally and Atulpara by bike. However, at that time the water level of the river was very low. But the river got swelled and the water current increased following few hours of rain due to the impact of cyclonic storm Gulab.

More than a dozen villagers reached the spot and tied a long rope to the tree located on the side of Atulpara, then jumped into the river and reached the other side while swimming with the support of the rope to help the journalist cross the river.

The villagers demanded to build a bridge across the river located between Polampally to Atulpara. According to the villagers, their demand for the bridge is long pending. Due to which dozens of villages settled in this area are cut off from the headquarters in the rainy season due to the absence of a bridge, villagers said.