Horse plunges into 6-feet deep stormwater drain

Vadodara: In an unusual and alarming incident, a horse fell into a six-foot-deep stormwater drain in Atladara on Wednesday after an RCC maintenance cover collapsed under its weight, triggering a four-hour rescue and raising fresh concerns over the safety of civic infrastructure in the city.

Residents were stunned to see the animal trapped inside the drainage channel after the cover gave way. Part of the surrounding slab also cracked, causing the horse to plunge into the drain while its owner was taking it home.

The owner raised the alarm, prompting a fire brigade team to rush to the spot. Rescuers had to break open a section of the concrete slab to create space to pull the animal out.

When some firemen entered the drain, the frightened horse began kicking, making the operation difficult. “We got the owner to help and managed to pull the horse out in a rescue operation that lasted over four hours,” a fire brigade official said.

A veterinary doctor examined the animal at the site and found that it had suffered only minor injuries in the fall.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over the maintenance of stormwater infrastructure, with damaged or weak covers posing a risk to both animals and residents.