Fr Jacob Vattappilly, vicar of Lourdes Matha Church in Mullaringad, narrowly escaped a life-threatening situation when his car was swept away by a swollen river. The car, which stalled on a flooded road, was quickly carried off by strong currents after torrential rains on Friday night.
Fr Jacob had been returning from his home in Kaliyar when he encountered the floodwaters. Despite noticing waterlogged areas near Mullaringad junction, he underestimated the depth. The car stalled, and as the water rose, the vehicle began to float and was eventually carried into the river.
Struggling to open the front doors, Fr Jacob managed to escape through the rear door, grabbing a nearby tree branch to avoid being swept away. Local residents, who witnessed the incident, rushed to his aid and pulled him from the river. The car was found the next morning, 300 meters downstream, completely wrecked.
The community worked together to retrieve the vehicle, while Fr Jacob recounted his harrowing experience and the miraculous escape from what could have been a fatal accident.
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