Just on time to save lives

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The entire strength of Banaskantha district police was busy in a Republic Day function organised at the police maidan at Palanpur headquarters when the earthquake shook the state. They kept their cool, hoisted the national flag and rushed back to the Control and Command Cetre at the headquarters building where meanwhile, the seniormost officers of Banaskantha Range were holding a SOS meeting.

An army of one Additional Superintendent of police, Brajesh Jha, three Inspectors, ten Sub-Inspectors and 150 Constables including few Head Constables in eleven vehicles left for Bachau to reach at around 2pm.

Reaching the spot, the policemen led by Brajesh Jha, a probationary officer, first started rescuing lives trapped inside the debris and within three-and- half-hours, they succeeded in saving more than thirty lives. "Our men did not have anything like earthmoving instruments or even a cutter, they only used their common sense in the life saving operations," Brahmbhatt said.

"A distance of more than 225 kilometres from Palanpur to Bachau, was covered within four hours, said Inspector V S Dabhi, whose timely services has been recognized by his seniors for his role in the rescue operations.

The total force was divided in two segments, one led by Jha and and the other by Dabhi and his colleague, C R Dabhi, another Inspector of district police.

Meanwhile, at around 5.40pm, contingents of Indian Army moved in and they joined with the Border Security Force (BSF) men and as they were not well acquainted with the areas in Bhuj, one of the Banaskantha district police teams worked as navigators for the Military personnel. "While one of our team was busy in rescue operations in the area, another started moving with the Army personnel and started combined operations," said DSP, Brahmbhatt.

"They really have done a great job taking all the risks to go to another district without prior permission of officials of Home Department or the concenred district police officers and thus saving so many lives," said a senior official of state Home department.