Five persons of a family, trapped in a swollen river for eight hours, were swept away, one by one, while the entire town and the government machinery watched.

The victims, including a teenager, kept begging for help but not one came to their rescue. Among those looking on was Rajasthan Forest Minister Laxmi Narayan Dave.

Two soldiers, who were passing by, jumped into the river to try and rescue them. But one of the soldiers drowned immediately while the other was rescued after the waters receded.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening near Falna town, 300 km west of Jaipur.

The car in which Jodhpur’s Devi Lal, son Surendra, nephew Rajendra and relatives Anopram and Jhumar Raj were travelling was trapped in the overflowing Khari river near Falna.

The car got stuck on a bridge which would have taken them to a temple on the banks, their destination. There was nearly three feet of water on the bridge when they began crossing it.

Within seconds, the level rose and the car submerged completely, according to eyewitnesses. The passengers climbed atop the car and began screaming for help.

Since the river flows close to the town, hundreds of people gathered on the banks to watch the trapped passengers. But such was the ferocity of the water that nobody dared to take the plunge and go to their rescue.

The police arrived an hour later from two adjoining police stations, minus life-saving gear. Senior officials of the local administration too arrived at the spot but could do very little.

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