Harichandra
Mohan
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 28:Two persons from Koraput, Harischandra Hial and Mohan Garada, will receive the Biju Patnaik Bravery Award at Soochana Bhawan Tuesday for saving precious lives of five children in 2016 when they got nearfatally stuck in the middle of Jhanjabati river after flashfloods. Both Hial and Mohan are residents of Harijan Sahi under Narayanpatna block and are daily wage earners in Chennai. In order to recognise their courageous act, the Sports and Youth Services Department has decided to confer this year’s Biju Patnaik Bravery Award on both Harischandra and Mohan. On the occasion of National Sports Day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will felicitate them with the award which contains a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each, a silver medal and a citation. On 26 June 2016, due to heavy downpour in the catchment area of the Jhanjabati river, a flashflood occurred. Seeing the heaving waters of the river, five children of Harijan Sahi found shelter on a stone mound and shouted for help. Hearing the shouts of the
children, residents of Harijan Sahi gathered at the bank of river but nobody dared rescue them. It was then that Harichandra and Mohan came to their rescue. Speaking to Orissa POST, Harischandra said: “The award is a big surprise for us as we never expected it. We are overwhelmed that the government has appreciated our efforts. I still remember the day when those five children were stuck in the middle of the river and nobody dared help them. My maternal uncle Mohan volunteered first and single-handedly saved three children. Listening to the wailing of the children I could not control myself and plunged into the river to save the remaining two. We are happy that the children are doing well now.” Sharing his experience, Mohan said: “At that critical moment
when the children were about to drown my only concern was to save their lives and I didn’t bother about my life. People who had gathered there were taking photos, making videos, crying and praying, but didn’t bother to save the children. Most of them said that the river had taken many lives and that the five children would also perish, but I was not ready to surrender and without a thought jumped headlong into the river. It was an instant reaction so I never imagined my effort would be awarded by the state government. I am very happy about what I did and expect other people to do the same when they see people in trouble.” “We work in the garments industry and receive a paltry wage. The award is an encouragement for us,” added Mohan
