A video grab shows a bus submerged in flood water.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

As many as 20 people including one with minor injuries have been rescued by the security teams of Hatta Police Station, after they had stranded in Hatta valley (Umm Al Nosoor) in the emirate of Dubai on Tuesday evening.

Those people were in a bus, which sank in the valley’s water before they managed to get off the bus and reach a high spot until the rescue teams reached the location and rescused them.

Colonel Mubarak Mubarak Al-Ketbi, Director of the Hatta Police Station, said that they were alerted at 7:30pm on Tuesday about a number of people stranded in the Hatta Valley, because the driver was unable to complete his way in the valley due to the rain water, which stormed into the bus. The driver had to force the passengers to get-off the bus quickly and hurry to the highest nearby place until the rescue arrived, Col. Al Ketbi added.

The rescue teams from the GHQ of Dubai Police and the General Directorate of Civil Defense immediately rushed to the aforementioned location, but the patrols were unable to enter due to the narrow path of the valley and its roughness, in addition to the presence of large stones and rocks that block the way. Therefore, they had to resort to use Polaris bike, which was driven by the cop Ahmed Tarish, in the valley, and he was able to reach the spot of the stranded people.

Officials seen at the site of accident during the rescue operation.

Ahmed Tarish, explained that the rescue operation was dangerous due to the darkness and roughness of the road, in addition to the valley’s water.

He added, “I helped the injured person get on the bike with me, while the rest of the people followed me accompanied by two men from the civil defense, and we took a road at the edge of the valley until we reached safely.”

The patrols were waiting for them, along with ambulance, Col. Al Ketbi added.

On the other hand, the command and control centre at the operations department of Dubai Police received 24,198 calls during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, and recorded 412 traffic accidents during the same period.

Colonel Turki bin Faris, Director of the Command and Control Centre, stated that the centre is fully prepared to receive calls 24/7 in 6 languages, and is keen to work to respond to cases and urgent communications ASAB and time.

“The safety and security of the society is a top priority for Dubai Police,” he added.