Paradip: The district administration is planning to recommend the names of three fishermen, who put their life at risk and saved two students from being swept away by high tides on Tuesday, for Jeevan Raksha Padak, a civilian lifesaving award instituted by the Centre.
“Fishermen Kambala Prasad (38), B. Srinu (25), and S. Gopi (40) displayed exemplary courage in taking risk to save the teenagers from the jaws of death. They deserve the award,” Paradip additional district magistrate Kanhu Charan Dhir to a national daily.
Three students of Paradip Kendriya Vidyalaya had drowned in Paradip sea during the Swachh Bharat programme organised by the local municipality on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
After the programme got over, the students started frolicking in the sea. Suddenly, all three of them slipped and fell into the water. Two of them, identified as A. Saijyoti and Subham Kulu, were rescued by the three fishermen.
Watch: Two Out Of 3 Students Rescued From Paradip Sea
They spotted the students screaming and waving their hands for help while preparing for fishing voyage.
“Wasting no time, we tied ropes to our waists and plunged into the sea. Two of the boys managed to cling on to the ropes. With much difficulty, we succeeded to drag them to the shore,” said Kambala Prasad.
The fishermen regret having failed to save Anshuman Das, a Class IX student, who was washed away by strong waves. His body was fished out of the sea by fire services officials near Hanuman at around 5 am on Wednesday.
The rescue operation was delayed as the boat carrying them capsized in the sea on Wednesday evening. Though the officials managed to swim ashore, the equipment were damaged. Following which, the operation had to be stopped.
