Volunteers from Ward Wizard Foundation with Indian Army rescued a 12-day-old baby girl along with her mother in Vadodara

• Also rescued 45 people from the badly hit Siddharth Bungalow, including hypertension and varicose vein patients and college students

Voluntary organisations have played an important role in evacuating people to safe places in flood-affected Vadodara. In one such rescue mission, volunteers of the Ward Wizard Foundation, with the help of the Indian Army, set an example of humanity by safely rescuing a 12-day-old baby girl along with her mother.

Vadodara was reeling under severe flood conditions due to heavy rains and flooding in the Vishwamitri river, which flows through the heart of the city. People took shelter on the first floors and terraces of their houses and apartments until the administration and social organizations reached them to rescue and shift them to safer places. Many unsung heroes were also involved in the rescue efforts, assisting the administration and rescuing people from dangerous situations.

One such hero, Darshit Brahmbhatt, a volunteer from the Ward Wizard Foundation, was actively involved in saving a 12-day-old infant and her mother from the completely submerged Siddharth Bungalow on 28 August. He said the satisfaction of saving them is beyond words.

“I earlier resided in this society and am well aware of the points to rescue people from flood water which submerged the whole area. The 14th Assam Regiment (Gandhinagar) is engaging in the rescue efforts and I joined them due to my awareness of the entry and exit points. Meanwhile, I received a message about a mother who was stuck with her 12-day-old infant and needed assistance. We reached there and rescued her with her baby and four-year-old child. She was so concerned about the baby and I emotionally connected with her and convinced her to believe in us. After the rescue, her family touched my feet to thank me, which was a big thing for me,” said Darshit.

Darshit and the Army team rescued around 45 people from there, which included hypertension and varicose vein patients, college students, and other residents. They also engaged four tractors for rescue and relief work in this area and distributed relief materials like food packets, milk, and water.

Yatin Gupte from the foundation appreciated this effort and said they are standing with the people of Vadodara and will extend every possible help to bring the city back to normalcy.