VIDEO: Indian minister who joined mission to rescue people from floods was himself airlifted
A combo image shows Narottam Mishra being rescued by air force personnel.
An Indian politician was airlifted to safety by air force chopper while on a rescue mission in a flood-ravaged district of Madhya Pradesh.
The Home Minister of the state Dr Narottam Mishra was seen tied to a harness and braving strong gusts as he was airlifted.
Local media reported that Mishra was on a rescue mission after hearing that nine people were stranded on the roof of a house.
It was also reported that the house was completely submerged under water due to floods in the Datia district.
Mishra wanted to take stock of the situation but himself became the victim.
Local media said Mishra was travelling in a boat in bad weather when a tree collapsed to gust winds and fell on the minister’s boat.
Luckily, he survived the accident but the boat was inoperable.
Stuck in the situation, Mishra was moved to the roof of the same house where he was supposed to rescue the stranded nine people in Kotra village.
Unable to do anything, Mishra had to dial the authorities for help.
The minister sent a SOS to officials.
An Indian Air Force helicopter was dispatched to the spot to rescue the minister and nine other villagers.
The video of the rescue operation has now gone viral on social media with some comparing the minister’s situation to popular Bollywood movies.
Media said that Mishra was instructing officials to rescue the villagers first.
Samajwadi Party leader Yash Bharti took a jibe and said, "The Home Minister was visiting the flood-affected areas. He reached the Panchayat Bhawan to help people, but himself needed rescue.
“See how beautifully the video has been made, like Shah Rukh Khan saving Preity Zinta in the film Veer Zara. The story looks filmy."
