Sparkle of luck for diamond polisher in Gujarat swept away in flood

RAJKOT: The vigorous monsoon over Saurashtra also showered some luck on this 45-year-old diamond polisher in Junagadh district after he was rescued from flooded natural drain after three hours.
Babu Hirpara, a diamond polisher, somehow misjudged the turbulence in a flooded natural drain and tried to cross it on his motorcycle. Hirpara got swept away, but as luck would have it, he found an iron pole to cling on.
Babu Hirapara clinging on to an iron pole in natural drain near Bhesan in Junagadh district
The drain is between Chanka and Gujariya villages and Hirpara, who works in a diamond unit in Bhesan was returning to his home in Pirvad village, some 10 km away at around 7pm on Thursday.
Hirpara clung on to the pole amid uncertainty that the water level could swell further due to continuous rainfall.
However, villagers standing on both ends of the drain, called up the police and informed the local mamlatdar office.
"There was a crane at an underground pipe laying site near-by. We called the crane and tied a rope to its hook. The hook was lowered to Hirpara who caught the rope and was rescued," said Pradipsinh Jadeja, deputy superintendent of police, Junagadh.
The entire operation took around three hours in darkness, the only source of light being some vehicles.
The rain water from Girnar mountain flows into this drain and then into the river. There has been incessant rainfall in and around Girnar, which led to flash floods in the drain.
"His bike got swept away, but Hirpara's life was saved. The water was extremely turbulent, but fortunately there was a crane that helped rescue him," said RA Jadeja, police sub-inspector, Bhesan police station.