State bravery award for Koraput tribal youths

Koraput: Harischandra Hiaal and Mohan Garada of Harijan Sahi in Maoist-hit Narayanpatna block of Koraput district have a reason to cheer. Recognizing their act of daredevilry in rescuing five children from drowning during flash flood in Jhanjabati river on June 30, 2016, the Sports and Youth Services Department has decided to confer this year’s Biju Patnaik Bravery Award on them.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will felicitate them with the bravery award, a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a citation on the occasion National Sports Day in the state capital on Tuesday.
The youths eke out their living as daily wagers.
On June 30, 2016, five children had gone to the river to take a bath. The water level was low and the children were playing in the river water, unaware of the fact that heavy rain had occurred at the upper reaches of the river a day earlier. Thus, water flow was likely to become heavy any time. All of a sudden, the water level rose to the neck level. The panicked children shouted for help and climbed atop a large boulder on the riverbed. Fortunately, Harishchandra and Mohan, who were passing by, heard their cries and rushed to help them.
They used a long bamboo pole to rescue the children. At their call some other villagers also came and helped them hold the pole. Holding the bamboo pole, the two youths waded through the heavy current to reach the children on the boulder and brought them on the river bank one after another.