Odisha Sisters To Get Bravery Award For Saving People From Drowning In Croc-Infested River

Bhubaneswar: Purnima Giri and her cousin sister Sabita Giri will be conferred with the Indian Council for Child Welfare’s (ICCW) National Bravery Award 2019 for saving lives in the Kendrapara boat capsize.

The award will be presented on January 26, 2020, in New Delhi. The organization has invited them to attend the award ceremony. “We are happy to inform you that you (Purnima & Sabita) have been selected as one of the awardees for the ICCW’s National Bravery Award 2019,” read the letter issued by the ICCW.

The sisters from Nipania village in Kendrapara district had risked their life to save around 10 persons from drowning after a boat, carrying picnickers from Hukitola Lighthouse, capsized in the Mahanadi near Nipania village in January this year.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday congratulated the two teenaged girls and tweeted, “”Braving high tides & dangerous crocodiles, they saved many lives risking their own from a capsized boat. Their courage is indeed an inspiration.”

The Chief Minister had earlier felicitated the sisters.

On the day of the incident, Sabita and Purnima heard some people screaming and immediately reached the spot. They jumped into the deep waters on the cold winter day and saved lives of 10 people, including that of children, despite knowing that the portion of the river was crocodile-infested.

At least 10 people, including seven children, had drowned in the boat capsize.