Paradip: Even as one of the three students of Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), who were washed away Tuesday, drowned in sea water, two were rescued, thanks to the exemplary courage displayed by three youths of the ‘nolia’ (fisherman) community.
Though seven to nine youths were involved in the rescue act, three of them dragged two students from the jaws of death.
The three Telugu speaking youths were Kambla Prasad (25), B Srinu (30) and S Gopi (28) from nearby Shandhakuda village.
Locals now demand recommendation of their names for bravery awards as they appeared on the scene as ‘angels’ to rescue two students from certain death.
Three KV students slipped into the water while playing. At that time nine members of Jan Sena Trust, an NGO of Andhra Pradesh founded by Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan, were cleaning the beach as part of the Swachh Bharat campaign.
The members address Kalyan as ‘chief’ and don’t take a penny from others to render their services. Nearly 60 youths of Shandhakuda village joined the organisation and they stay away from all sorts of publicity.
Hearing the screams of the drowning students for help, nine members of the organisation rushed to the spot to rescue them. By then the students were already under the water. The youths immediately picked up the plastic ropes from the fishermen who were weaving fishing nets and entered the water tying the rope around their waists.
The rescuers managed to save the life of Shubham and Saijyoti one by one. However, Anshuman had disappeared in the water by the time they reached near him.
The volunteers also rushed the rescued students to the hospital with the help of CISF jawans and others.
Then they again tried to search for the missing Anshuman the entire night but in vain.
The ‘nolia’ youths also pooled Rs 5,000 among themselves and went to Bhubaneswar where the rescued students were undergoing treatment to offer financial assistance. On being humbly refused by the parents, the youths said they would hand over the money to the family of the deceased.
They were not bothered about losing two expensive mobile phones during the rescue operation, said one of the youths.
Meanwhile, locals hailed the courage and presence of mind of the youths who managed to save two lives and demanded bravery awards for them.
PNN