Kendrapada: Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire brigade personnel on Wednesday rescued as many as 220 students, including 88 girls, and six teachers of a govt-run residential school for SC/ ST students, who were stranded for four days at school.Nearly 10 feet of floodwaters had submerged the first floor of Kulasahi Ashram School in Penthapala gram panchayat of Pattamundai block after Brahmani overflowed due to heavy rain. “Rescue teams safely evacuated all stranded students using four rescue boats and deploying 15 emergency personnel. Equipped with life jackets, ropes and other safety equipment, the boats reached the marooned school at 9 am on Wednesday after crossing swirling floodwaters,” said Kendrapada collector Raghuram R Iyer.The rescue operation continued for nearly four hours. A team of doctors examined the students but found them fit. They were subsequently shifted to another residential school at Mahadeipatana village in the district.The two-storey school building had been battling strong currents since Saturday after floodwaters gushed into its ground floor. “Located in a low-lying area close to the riverbank, the 15-year-old school frequently faces waterlogging during floods,” said headmaster Soumendra Das, who had remained at the school since Saturday.The prolonged ordeal had left parents and guardians worried. They heaved a sigh of relief after learning that all the students had been safely evacuated. “I had spent three sleepless nights worrying as my son was cramped with other students in a room on the first floor. I am now relieved. My son will return to school after floodwaters recede,” said Ramesh Sethi of Rajnagar.