Even though one hour feels very long to these disaster victims.
At least it gives them a concrete goal.
Everyone took out their phones, diligently calculating the ti, while following Gu Ji’s command to move towards the front of the train.
Since the train cars were full, and car no. 2 was cleared as a centralized point for the injured, five more cars had to be vacated for the disaster victims, making the train interior suddenly crowded.
But the most deadly issue was the water leaking into the compartnts.
Even though Gu Ji had the train staff close the corridor doors of compartnt 55, the train was not a sealed space and could not have perfect airtightness.
Floodwater still seeped in through the door cracks, the previously repaired broken windows, and the bathroom vents.
Silently, the water level was rising, first in compartnt 54, quickly reaching from chest to neck height.
Gu Ji was at a loss for solutions.
Just like the dical staff couldn’t save the two drowned victims in the previous sudden crisis, more than thirty people were lost, and of course, the mission’s range wasn’t just the train, but also the riverside towns and villages like Dis布尔 and Gauhati overwheld by the flooding.
He could only urge the crowd to continue moving towards the front of the train to buy so ti.
But space on the train was limited, and to ensure everyone had enough room to breathe, they could compress no more than around thirty-five cars, heads of people pressing together densely, like clusters of ants, watching the water level rise higher. So stood on the seats to avoid being subrged, clinging to the luggage racks on either side of the train, stretching their necks to take in enough oxygen.
The victims listened to the roaring floodwater outside the train and the "pattering" of the heavy rain, trying to distract themselves from the panic by checking their phones, but due to poor network signals, most could only view photos for comfort, and those without phones held their families, crying quietly.
Gu Ji also kept an eye on the governnt’s movents through his phone.
Finally managing to log onto "Little Blue Bird," he indeed found the hot topic "India Floods" in the search section, with the highest-discussion item being a ssage from India’s Pri Minister Mr. Dieter 20 minutes ago:
"The Indian governnt has always been highly concerned about the situation in Assam and stays in contact with the local governnt to get the latest information on the rescue work. We have dispatched 16 army teams, 28 naval teams, and 33 teams from the National Disaster Response Force of India, totaling over 1000 people, transported by aircraft to Assam to assess the situation and aid in evacuation. Currently, more than 400,000 residents have been relocated to disaster centers and other safe areas. The central governnt will provide the holess with a six-month aid of 4000 rupees per month, and the cabinet governnt will always stand with Assam’s residents, praying for everyone there!"
The comnts from international netizens below numbered nearly 3000.
[The real disaster situation in India is far more severe than what the officials release!]
[Pray for the people of Assam!]
[Waiting for governnt rescue is even slower than waiting for the flood to recede. Floods frequently occur in Assam, doesn’t the governnt know to prepare in advance?]
[India’s dam construction is just like tofu dregs!]
[Although I’m not in India, I must say this ti the central governnt’s reaction was really quick. Initiating ergency response within an hour of the flood outbreak is rare in disaster handling in previous years!]
[Don’t bother with official releases, the posts from victims are the most genuine. There’s a governnt official called Vidhi Dali, he is the true big hero saving the victims!]
The majority of comnts criticized the governnt for their ineffectiveness, so it’s no wonder the cabinet secretary "warned" him.
However, Gu Ji was mainly focused on the governnt’s rescue efforts.
Judging from the text, the cabinet high-ups indeed listened to his suggestions, with 1,000 rescue personnel and 400 boats, enough to safely evacuate over ten thousand victims within 20 minutes.
"Hydra! Hydra, what’s wrong with you! Wake up!"
"Oh my god!"
Just as Gu Ji was lost in thought, a sudden commotion erupted among the nearby crowd. He turned his head swiftly; it was a young boy who had fainted. "Quick, make way! Don’t crowd around him!"
He urged the nearby victims, quickly squeezing through to check, first feeling for the carotid pulse, then pulling open the boy’s eyelids.
"He’s hypoxic. Quickly get him to the bathroom area near the corridor!"
"Everyone, please step aside!"
Fatima also shouted from the side.
The crowd struggled to move back, creating a narrow path.
The corridor bathroom had a vent—it was the only place in the compartnt where one could breathe air from outside the train. Indeed, as Gu Ji carried the boy near the bathroom, he took a deep breath, coughed twice, and finally regained consciousness.
"Thank goodness, thank you, noble Mr. Vidhi!"
The boy’s mother, overwheld, wiped tears from the corners of her eyes.
But Fatima pulled Gu Ji aside.
"Vidhi, the water level keeps rising, and there are too many victims in the compartnt, making the oxygen insufficient, especially for those who are shorter. Should we open the vent holes and let them climb outside the compartnt and wait?"
"Perhaps, but the risk is too great. It’s continuously raining outside, making the carriage roof extrely slippery, and without sothing to hold onto, if anyone accidentally falls down, the rapid floodwaters won’t allow rescue — they’ll be swept away."
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