In a heartwarming tale that echoes the timeless fable of the tortoise and the hare, a turtle in Maharashtra's Panvel quite literally won the race for life. A timely alert and quick coordination between the Panvel Fire Brigade and the municipal veterinary team ensured the turtle was freed from a life-threatening situation and safely returned to its home in Wadhale Lake.

The drama unfolded when local resident Mukund Koli, on Thursday, July 17, spotted a turtle struggling with a fishing hook stuck in its mouth near Wadhale Lake.

Understanding the urgency, he immediately alerted the Panvel Fire Brigade. Within 10 minutes, a team was dispatched to the scene and found the turtle in a critical condition.