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Pankaj Kotecha (36) is not one to leave his friends in deep waters. So, ever since he found out that his friends in Surat are trapped in a building for the past three days, he decided to go there to rescue them.
This morning, Kotecha, along with four other friends, left for Surat in a Qualis, with two inflated boats tied to the car to rescue them. They are also carrying some medicines, packaged food and water.
Kotecha, who runs a catering business in Kandivli, bought two inflated boats at 2 am last night. Each inflated boat cost him Rs 3,000. He placed the order at 9 pm and got the delivery at 2 am. Each boat can carry two adults and four children.
My friend Amit Kothari stays with his family in Randhar, 5 km from Surat. The area is completely flooded and the only way to get there is by boat. When I spoke to him two days ago, they told me that his family, including two young children, were stranded on the terrace of the building without proper food and water. Thats when I decided to leave for Surat to help them, said Kotecha.
Soon after, there was a complete communications breakdown and Kotecha lost contact with them.
After rescuing his friends, Kotecha plans to leave the inflated boats there so that others in need can use them. | 
