Morbi cop flooded with praise for his valour in deluge

RAJKOT: Netizens have dubbed him the Baahubali after his pictures and videos carrying two children on his shoulders to safety in a flooded village of Morbi went viral.


Chief minister Vijay Rupani too saluted his act of valour. But for constable Pruthvirajsinh Jadeja , wading through waist-deep waters in the flooded Kalyanpur village on Saturday, was part of his urgency to save lives.

Talking to TOI on Sunday, Jadeja said: "I couldn't stop to think of the risks in my action of carrying the two small girls against the current on my shoulders. But there were 42 people stranded in the village. I had no time to think because their lives too were under risk. All I wanted to do was to rescue all of them and save their lives, in any manner I could.”

Jadeja, who is attached to Tankara police station, rushed to Kalyanpur village on Saturday along with other policemen after getting to know that 42 people, including 17 children, were stranded as floodwaters entered homes due to Friday night's incessant downpour in the region. Along with local swimmers, cops started a rescue operation to shift the stranded people to safety. They even constructed a makeshift boat. But there were many people and time was running out.

Jadeja decided to carry the two children on his shoulders and without waiting for the pros and cons of his act, he plunged into wading the distance of around a kilometer. He injured his leg in the process, but the joy of doing his bit acted as a balm to the wound. All the villagers had been rescued.

"What we have done is just a part of our duty," reiterated a modest Jadeja, who got a call from Rupani himself to congratulate him for the valiant act and urging to "keep doing such praiseworthy work".

Tweeting Jadeja's video, which has already got over 22000 views, Rupani said, "A man in uniform on duty...!! Police constable Shri Pruthvirajsinh Jadeja is one of the many examples of hard work, determination and dedication of a government official, executing duties in the adverse situation. Do appreciate their commitment."

Rain-related mishaps in Gujarat claimed the lives of 19 people on Friday and Saturday, as Saurashtra and central Gujarat were lashed by heavy rains