CHENNAI: Durgadevi, 22, a nursing student from Pernampet in Vellore district, on Thursday received Anna medal of gallantry from Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, at the R-Day celebrations.
The award carries a cheque for `one lakh and a medal worth `5,000 and a certificate. She has been chosen for this award for her act of bravery during an accident that took place last year in Island Grounds, in which Durgadevi helped her classmate, risking her own life.
At present, she is studying in the Post Basic Diploma in Critical Care in Vellore and also working as a nurse in a private hospital. On June 5, 2016, around 320 students from Apollo College of Nursing, Chennai had to move to Island Grounds for participating in ‘Pinkathon 2016’ - a marathon intended to spread awareness about breast cancer. They were to cross a temporary wooden bridge built over the Coovum river which had stagnant water.
Suddenly, the bridge started to wobble and collapsed due to excessive weight. The bridge broke and around 30 students fell into the muddy water. Amid the chaos, Durgadevi spotted G Nandhini, screaming for help which was not noticed by others. Risking her life, she got into the muddy water and dragged her classmate out of it.
While Dr AM Ikram received Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award, P Thangadurai, ASP, Nagapattinam district, K Jeevanandam, DSP, Central Investigation Unit (North) received Gandhi Adigal Police Medal for their outstanding work in curtailing illicit liquor.