Hazaribag: Braving height, darkness and live wires, two power department staffers — Shahid Alam (27) and Wasim Akram (28) — rescued a one-month-old kitten stranded atop a nearly 50-foot-high electric pole in the Kolghatti area (ward No. 2) late on Wednesday night.The duo, who were on night duty, said they received a call around 10 pm informing them that a kitten had climbed a high pole to escape stray dogs and was dangerously close to a live wire, posing a risk of electrocution.“We immediately rushed to the spot and saw the kitten stuck near the live line,” said Shahid. “The first step was to ensure safety, so we informed the Sindoor substation and got the power supply shut down before starting the rescue operation.”Wasim said that Shahid then used a bamboo ladder to climb the pole, aided by a torch provided by the electricity department. “The kitten was extremely frightened and initially did not respond. Whenever Shahid tried to catch it, it clung tightly to the pole with its front legs,” he added.After nearly half an hour of careful efforts, Shahid managed to safely bring the kitten down, much to the relief of residents who had gathered at the spot.Shahid, a resident of Banha village in Katkamdag block, and Wasim, who lives in Khirgaon in the city, said they felt compelled to act on seeing the helpless animal.“Saving a life is our duty. It is the holy month of Ramzan and we are observing Roza. Helping a living from distress is also a service to Allah,” the duo said.Ward No. 2 councillor Nikhat Yasmin praised their effort, saying, “What the two have done is truly commendable. At a time when people often hesitate to help even fellow humans, they have set an example by saving the life of a tiny creature.”
