The two minor cousin sisters, who won laurels for their courageous act of saving five persons from drowning on January 2 evening during a boat tragedy in Nipania river, were felicitated by Women and Child Development Minister Praffula Kumar Samal on Friday at Makalpada.
Notably, the sisters Purnima Giri (15) and Sabita Giri (14) of Nipania village are studying in class 9th at Gyanamayee High School. They saved five persons, including two women, by jumping into the crocodile infested river, risking their lives to rescue the victims.
Minister Samal felicitated them with flower bouquets, shawl and Rs 10,000-cash provided by the district administration from Red Cross andalso some gift packets.
The Minister too directed the district Collector to recommend the girls' names for the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW)'s National Bravery Award -2019.
Meanwhile, The death toll in Wednesday's boat capsize rose to 10 as an ODRAF team recovered the body of missing six-year-old girl from the Mahanadi river near Nipania on Friday. The deceased was identified as Subhasmita Swain, daughter of one of the boatmen. The rescue team recovered the body three km away from the mishap site.