Narayanpatna: In a display of extraordinary courage, two youths of Harijan Sahi in Koraput district rescued five minor boys of their village who were about to drown in the swollen Jhanjabati river here.
The gallant act of Mahan Garada and Harishchandra Garada drew round appreciation in the village. Though the incident took place Sunday, it became known Tuesday after a video clip of the incident recorded by a local youth went viral in the area.
According to reports, like any other day, five children of Harijan Sahi went to take a bath in the nearby Jhanjabati Sunday as the water level remains low in the river most of the time.
Unaware of the heavy rain that lashed the upper catchment areas of the river Saturday night, the children – Babulu Mahanandia, Atul Padhi, Kalia Padhi, Jitu Bidika and Laxman Bidika – were playing in the river when the water level suddenly went up. In no time, the water had risen to their neck. Though the children immediately began shouting for help, villagers could not hear their cries. Fortunately, Mahan and Harishchandra were passing by and rushed to their rescue.
The youths immediately called some more people for help and got hold of a long bamboo pole. A few villagers held on to the pole while the two youths waded into the river holding on to the pole and rescued the children one by one from the swirling waters.
The family members of the rescued children were at a loss for words trying to express their gratitude to the youths for saving the children. PNN
