Purnima Giri and Sabita Giri, two cousin sisters of Kendrapada district, will be conferred with the Indian Council for Child Welfare’s National Bravery Award-2019.
They will receive the award at a function in New Delhi in January next.
The siblings’ bravery had restricted a possible higher toll figure in the boat capsize incident in the Mahanadi confluence near Nipania under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district in January last year. Hearing screams of the victims, the two sisters reached the spot at a time when the boat had capsized completely.
Despite the portion of the river being crocodile-infested, Purima and Sabita jumped into the deep waters to rescue the victims. They managed to save around 10 persons, including two women and some children. The country boat was carrying around 55 persons, who were returning from a picnic.