Kendrapara: Sisters Sabita Giri and Purnima Giri of Nipania village of Batighara panchayat under Mahakalpada block in Kendrapara district were Thursday selected for the prestigious ‘Biju Patnaik Bravery Award 2019’.
This was announced by state Sports and Youth Affairs department Thursday evening. The sisters will be awarded by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Lok Seva Bhawan Bhubaneswar August 29, Kendrapara district sports officer Loknath Panigrahy informed.
Also read: One dead, 9 missing in Hukitola picnic spot boat tragedy
Notably, about 55 visitors of Hasina village in Jagatsinghpur district had come to Hukitola tourist centre at Nipania village of Batighara panchayat in this district in 2019.
A fishing boat which the visitors had been riding overturned at Nipania village while on their way back home in the evening. However, Sabita and Purnima immediately jumped into the river and rescued 12 occupants from the drowning boat.
The overloaded boat was anchored in a creek of River Mahanadi a few kilometre away from Hukitola picnic spot. The boat had overturned when three of the occupants tried to embark from one side.
However, ten children and women had died in the incident.
Notably, Hukitola is situated on Jambu Island in the Bay of Bengal under Mahakalapada block. A building on the island having plinth area of over 7,000sqft was constructed by the British.
Hukitola attracts hundreds of tourists, students and researchers round a year for its scenic beauty and historical significance.
PNN
