Dog trapped on Freeway tunnel for over 14 hours rescued by slum dwellers

The dog’s caretaker says the fire brigade was reluctant to help the animal.

A dog, which got trapped on the Eastern Freeway tunnel in Chembur after slipping from a hill on Friday, was rescued after over 14 hours on Saturday by the slum dwellers amid claims that the fire brigade refused to help the terrified animal after failing once.

Electrician Balu Warte, who stays at the Ashok Nagar slum atop the tunnel and feeds the dog, Mania, said, “I was busy on a call when Mania fell from the hill and landed on the tunnel.”

After the fire brigade was informed, the Chembur fire station sent an aerial ladder and a fire tender. Station officer PS Shinde took Warte to the top of the tunnel to retrieve the dog, but due to the glare of the searchlight and the noise of the aerial ladder, Mania got scared and went into a crevice.

“The fire brigade staff lost patience and left. They told me not to call them again,” Warte claimed. On Saturday, the slum dwellers again heard the dog’s cries. “I got restless and we discussed among ourselves not to involve the fire brigade. There was already a ladder at the tunnel. We brought another ladder and placed it below the existing one. I climbed atop the tunnel and threw a roti. Mania came running to me and we brought her down safely,” Warte said.

PS Shinde of Chembur fire station said, “On Friday night, the dog was scared and did not come out. We called off the operation. We didn’t get a call from the residents on Saturday.”