RAUTAHAT: As many as 26 persons including women and children, who were trapped in the middle of the Lal Bakaiya River in Rautahat following a flash flood , have been  rescued safely. The incident occurred when the men, women and children along with the cattle were crossing the river to collect fodder in a nearby jungle at around 7 am today. According to the District Police Office, Rautahat, they were rescued with the help of locals and security personnel after five hours. As soon as the Rautahat DPO knew about the incident, personnel from the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force reached the site and rescued them, DSP Sanubanu Thapaliya said. DSP Thapaliya further informed that 56 goats were also rescued. The village could have been suffered a huge loss, had the Rautahat DPO did not get information on time, he added.