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Rediff.com  » News » Choppers to rescue stuck train passengers

Choppers to rescue stuck train passengers

Source: PTI
July 01, 2005 14:37 IST
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Choppers were pressed into service on Friday to evacuate passengers stuck on board the Indore-Gandhinagar Shanti Express following flooding of tracks, official sources said.

"At least 300-400 passengers are stuck near Dakor town in Kheda district since 11 am yesterday [Thursday]," Western Railway's Public Relations Officer K K Dubey said.

"There was five-feet water on the tracks [when reports last came in] and it could enter the coaches," Dubey said.

Also see: Trains to Gujarat cancelled | Helpline

Dubey said the Vishwamitra river, which is overflowing, has disrupted traffic between Vadodara and Mumbai.

"We got phone calls from passengers stuck on board the Shanti Express. They said the water level was rising," a flood control officer said.

The army, which has been asked to assist in relief and rescue operations, has sent a team to Dakor.

Meanwhile, heavy rains continued in the area disrupting train services.

Vadodara, Surat and Anand in south Gujarat are some of the worst hit areas.

Also see: Gujarat calls for armed forces

The state government has ordered closure of all educational institutions in the state till Monday, Education Minister Anandiben Patel said.

So far, 56 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the state.

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