20 Fire Personnel Honoured For ‘Operation Pranakrushna’

Cuttack: As many as 20 fire personnel, who had rescued an elderly man from a narrow concrete pipe four days ago, were honoured by Fire Services DG Bijay Kumar Sharma on Monday at the state headquarters office in Cuttack.

The fire officials were presented Rs 3,000 cash prize each for their heroic act.

“These fire officials have shown exemplary courage while discharging their duty. Such practice will definitely boost the morale of other officials,” Sharma said.

On May 17, a man identified as Pranakrushna Muduli got trapped while working inside a pumping station pipe at Tulasipur in Cuttack district around 8 am. He was rescued around 3:35 pm after a seven-hour-long operation by a team of fire officials accompanied by ODRAF personnel.

The incident took place when Muduli, a labourer, got stuck inside the 2.5-wide pipe while clearing a blockage.

He was sucked about 15-20 metres into the pipe when a staffer of the pumping station turned on the motor of the pump for water supply

The victim was taken out of the pipe by cutting open the concrete chamber.

Suction machine, breathing apparatus, drilling machine, blower and other equipment were used in the rescue operation.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had expressed relief and happiness over the rescue of Muduli. He had also congratulated fire officials and the ODRAF team for the successful operation.