Trio, goats stuck on marsh rescued

TIRUCHY: Fire and rescue services personnel in Ariyalur rescued three persons, including a 7-year-old boy, who were stranded along with 370 goats in a marsh, at T-Pazhur on Monday after a 10-hour long battle.

Sources said, N Annamalai (41), from Anikudi village, K Rasukannan (47) from Ramanathapuram and S Arumugam (7), also from Ramanathapuram, were herding as many as 370 goats from Thanjavur to Anaikudi on Kollidam banks in Ariyalur on Sunday. Since it was late, the trio stayed in the marsh with the cattle.

Meanwhile, the flow in the Kollidam increased steadily and they got trapped. Locals alerted Vikkiramangalam police who rushed to the spot with Jayankondam fire station personnel. Udayarpalayam RDO Parimalam, Tahsildhar Durai and other officials also reached the spot and stepped up the rescue operation. Since there was a heavy flow, the rescue attempts did not work initially. After a few hours, an eight-member team entered the river in a rubber boat and rescued the trio after a 10-hour operation. The rescued persons were brought to safety along with the goats.