A dangerous incident unfolded in the Yangihayot district of Tashkent, where a local man reportedly fell into the Jun (Junariq) canal and was swept away by the current before being rescued by emergency personnel. This alarming event once again highlights the persistent safety vulnerabilities surrounding urban water infrastructure, pointing to systemic failures in securing hazardous public zones. While the operation concluded without fatalities, the circumstances underscore the ongoing risks ordinary residents face within the municipal environment.
Key Takeaways: The incident occurred on November 6 at approximately 19:00 local time when emergency services received a distress call regarding a drowning person. Off-duty emergency ministry rescuers Ogabek Ghafforov and Otabek Abdusattorov happened to be passing by and intervened swiftly. The victim was reportedly swept approximately 300 meters down the canal before being pulled ashore and reunited with his family contacts.
According to reports from the Tashkent Emergency Situations Department, the two rescuers from the Uchtepa district were heading home after completing their shifts when they spotted the struggling individual. Demonstrating prompt reaction, they rushed to the bank and executed the rescue operation. The victim later explained that he routinely crossed the canal by walking along a utility pipe suspended above the water. On the evening of the accident, he allegedly lost his footing and plunged directly into the canal, subsequently drifting downstream for roughly 300 meters while shouting desperately for help.
"I yelled, help, help. Everyone helped. Thank you to the Emergency Situations Ministry employees," the rescued man purportedly stated, expressing his gratitude to the operatives. Following the extraction, emergency personnel successfully established contact with the victim's relatives. Authorities discovered that his immediate family resides in the Surkhandarya region, while his son lives in Tashkent. The rescue team subsequently assisted in safely transporting the man to his son's residence. *
Critics and observers point out that municipal waterways in Tashkent remain poorly guarded, posing continuous hazards to the populace. A similar incident occurred previously when a young woman reportedly threw herself into the Bozsu canal and was rescued by local preventive inspectors and vigilant bystanders. Despite official assurances, recurring emergencies suggest that current preventative measures implemented by the authorities remain inadequate to fully safeguard citizens along the city's extensive canal network.
Source: www.gazeta.uz