Mentally-ill man makes rescue operation tough

RAJKOT: A team of fire brigade personnel, city engineer, deputy municipal commissioner, SRP and police of A division were all at tether’s end when they went to rescue a family tapped inside a partially damaged old building in Ramnathpara area of Rajkot on Friday.
The cause for their distress was a 26-year-old mentally challenged man, Ravi Sindhi, who refused to come out of the dilapidated house. If that was not all, his towering 6ft height and an imposing 130kg weight made the task of convincing him almost impossible. A part of the old house had already collapsed and the remaining portion threatened to fall any time. It had become dangerous, and the rescue personnel were running out of time as rain continued to batter the city. Finally two hours later after much cajoling, Sindhi acquiesced to the entreaties and came out.
Despite attempts by the family members and rescue personnel, Sindhi refused to come out and in his loud, but firm voice, kept warning everybody not to come near him. Fearing if they forcefully enter the house, Sindhi may possibility hurt himself, rescue team kept trying to reason with him.
B J Theba chief fire officer of RMC said, “It took us two hours of coaxing to convince him and once he came out, we took him directly to the hospital as the family members had desired.”
RMC has also started process to demolish the dilapidated house.