Firefighters rescue nine persons trapped in the middle of Vellar in Perambalur district

Firefighters rescuing a person using rope from the Vellar in Perambalur district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In a swift operation, a team of firefighters rescued nine persons who got trapped in the sudden rise in water level in the Vellar near Labbaikudikadu in Perambalur district after heavy rain in the catchment areas on Sunday. The rescue operation lasted nearly two hours soon after the crack of dawn when the firefighters armed with necessary paraphernalia managed to rescue the nine persons one after the other using manila ropes and life buoys. The fire station at Veppur in Perambalur district received information around 5 a.m. about a group of people trapped in the middle of the Vellar after sudden rise in water flow. A team from the Veppur fire station rushed to the spot within 10 minutes armed with equipment used for the rescue operation.Another team from the Perambalur fire station headed by the Assistant District Fire Officer reached the spot to augment manpower, a Fire Department official told The Hindu. About 15 firefighters, along with a few volunteers, were involved in the rescue mission. The rescue team positioned itself on a new bridge was under construction across the Vellar. The firefighters noticed a group of nine men standing atop a sports utility vehicle, a few metres away from the bridge under construction. The vehicle was partially submerged in the water.The vehicle was stuck in the middle due to sudden surge in water level, an official said. The firefighting team threw manila ropes tying life buoys with it and rope ladder towards the group. The group members caught hold of the nylon rope and the firefighters pulled them to safety one after the other. Published - October 25, 2026 08:04 pm IST