How an Indian firm helped Thailand rescue 12 boys trapped in a flooded cave
Thailand's rescue mission
After an over two-week-long mission to rescue 12 boys and their coach from an inundated cave, Thailand finally got its moment of relief as the mission ended in success with support pouring in from different corners of the world. An Indian firm, Kirloskar Brothers' Limited (KBL), was among the firms that lent active support to Thailand during their rescue mission.
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The challenge posed by an inundated cave
Rescuers suffered from a week-long dilemma over the best way to bring the trapped out of the cave even as the flood situation exacerbated due to bad weather and intermittent rains kept making things harder for the rescue team. Despite the challenge, the tragedy evoked support from different countries and people from all walks of life with Tesla chief Elon Musk leaving behind a mini-submarine to assist in rescue operations.
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Thailand gets help from India
India too did not fall short and jumped in right away to extend help. The KBL Group, which is India's largest maker of water pumps and valves, is headed by Sanjay Kirslokar as the chairman and managing director (CMD) and has years of experience in "dewatering". The company sent teams from its offices in India, Thailand and the United Kingdom to help in the rescue mission at the site.
Not only did the Indian firm send expert teams on the site, but it also offered to provide four specialised high capacity Autoprime dewatering pumps, which were kept ready at Kirloskarvadi plant in Maharashtra to be airlifted to Thailand, the company said in a release.
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Race against time
The boys of the Wild Boar football team were rescued in three phases with the first four being led out the cave on Sunday. The rescue mission involved an elite 19 divers who would help the team through the nearly 3.2 km path out of the inundated cave. Rescue operations involved the use of industrial-size pumps meant to reduce water levels in the cave. Oxygen and air tanks were also put to use, while medical supplies and food were provided inside the cave.
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All rescued from cave
The final five members of the young football team were rescued from the flooded Thai cave on Wednesday (July 11) after spending 18 harrowing days trapped deep inside the Thuam Luang cave. The rescued boys and their coach are undergoing treatment in the nearby city of Chiang Rai.
The rescue mission was one of the most complex ones carried out by the Thailand-led team and saw a massive investment of effort involving air operations, security personnel and diving experts.
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All clear! Equipment being taken away after rescue
A truck is seen carrying an electric cable as it leaves a cave rescue area in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.
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Finally, Hooyah!
According to reports, rescuers managed to complete the mission at the right time as water levels inside the cave began rising soon after the last boy was rescued out. Clearing up equipment also took time and rescuers had to carry everything out after the rescuing was over.
