Patna floods 2019: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Patliputra Ram Kripal Yadav had a narrow escape on Wednesday night when a makeshift boat carrying him overturned while he was surveying the flood-hit areas in his constituency. The incident took place in Dhanarua block of rural Patna which falls in Yadav’s constituency when the two-time MP from Pataliputra had gone to take stock of the flood situation.
The boat overturned as Yadav and seven of his supporters stood on the makeshift boat, getting it off balance. As soon as the boat overturned, the locals jumped in to rescue the leader. The entire incident was caught on camera.
Yadav was returning from a village in the Dhanarua block of rural Patna when the incident took place, reports said. The boat was made of bamboo sticks and inflated tyre-tubes. The boat tipped as he was trying to cross the river along with his supporters.
Watch video: Boat carrying Ram Kripal Yadav overturns in Patna
The MP remained unconscious for a few seconds after locals rescued him and the crowd had to use their ‘gamchas’ (towel) to help him recover. Yadav who looked haggard from the shock and suffocation was led to his destination.
Yadav is a former deputy mayor of Patna and known for his hands-on approach. He had joined the BJP in 2014 after snapping long ties with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he defeated Lalu’s daughter Misa Bharti and retained the seat in the 2019 polls.
State capital Patna is among the worst-affected 15 districts where heavy rains last week triggered floods. Many areas in Patna continue to remain inundated seven days after the rains. According to IMD’s prediction, Patna is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours.