CRPF personnel jump into stream, save drowning girl

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 15

Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men risked their lives by jumping into a gushing stream to save a teenaged girl from drowning on Monday morning.

The girl identified as Nageena, a resident of Kunzer in Baramulla, slipped into the stream while washing clothes. At the time of the incident, personnel of the 176 Battalion of the CRPF were doing area domination of the place.

“All of a sudden, there was a cry for help. The personnel, who were on duty, were shocked to see a girl being swept away by the tides. Showing great presence of mind and courage of the highest order and risking their own lives, two personnel — MG Naidu and N Upendra — jumped into the stream to rescue the girl. Soon other personnel also jumped in to help them and formed a human chain and rescued the girl,” said a CRPF spokesman.

A video of the girl in which she is seen screaming for help has gone viral.

After she was rescued, the girl was referred to Tangmarg hospital.

The father of the girl said his daughter would not have survived had the CRPF men not jumped into the stream. While recounting the incident, Constable Upendra said they heard the cries of the drowning girl when they were doing area domination duty.

“I and my colleague removed our weapons, helmets and bulletproof jackets and jumped into the nullah to rescue the drowning girl,” Upendra said.

The two CRPF men have been awarded the Director General of CRPF’s commendation disc and certificate for their selfless devotion to duty and the exemplary act of saving the life of a drowning girl, the CRPF spokesman said.

Awarded for selfless act 

A CRPF spokesman said the two CRPF men — MG Naidu and N Upendra — had been awarded the Director General of CRPF’s commendation disc and certificate for their selfless devotion to duty and the exemplary act of saving the life of the drowning girl.