TNFRS rescues 25 including dog at Urapakkam

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) rescued 25 from Chennai and suburbs including a dog named Jimmy, from hip-deep water at Urapakkam on Saturdaty.The rescue operation was initiated after a distress call was received from Karanaipuduchery, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar 1st Street, around 8.20am. Fire Officer Karthikeyan, along with a team of 12 personnel, responded promptly and discovered that water from the Urapakkam lake inundated several homes."Due to the continuous rain, water entered the locality. In one house, we found two elderly conservancy workers and their dog, Jimmy, who were rescued and brought to safety. Overall, we rescued five men, seven women, three children, and Jimmy from this area," said a TNFRS officer.Anticipating more calls for rescue operations, TNFRS intensified its preparedness. "About 70 personnel are on high alert with boats, specialised commando teams, and tree-cutting equipment," said N Vijayakumar, deputy director, North West Region.TNFRS has identified and is actively monitoring 197 low-lying areas in the city. The northern region, covering Chennai and its suburbs, deployed 781 fire personnel, including 539 firefighters on standby. The department established 24/7 control rooms at multiple locations to coordinate emergency responses effectively.