Team Herald
MARGAO: Public spirited villagers of Navelim struggled on Friday evening to rescue an ox that had got trapped in the River Sal tributary at Mandopa and succeeded in freeing the fatigued animal that even the staff of Fire Services and Emergency Services failed to rescue.
The ox belonging to a person from Dongorim apparently got trapped in the weed and water hyacinth growing in the tributary when it had gone to the water body to drink water. Villagers on seeing the animal struggling to come out as the growth had entangled its legs got in touch with the panchayat.
Deputy Sarpanch Paul Pereira immediately activated the Quick Response Team headed by Eleuterio Carneiro and two villagers Luis Gomes and Joel Gomes along with panchayat staff Sabir Inamdar entered the river.
After a struggle that lasted nearly half an hour, the trio succeeded in pulling the ox out of the river with the help of ropes as the fire services staff remained mute spectators.
The ox that was in the water for nearly 90 minutes fled from the place the moment it landed on land.
