CUTTACK: A routine fishing trip turned into a life-saving mission for Sanatan Palia, who risked his own life to rescue a 72-year-old man from drowning in Mahanadi river near Cuttack on Friday.
The 26-year-old Palia, a resident of Sunaribana under Jagatpur police station, was fishing in the river when he spotted the elderly man being swept away by the strong current at a distance of 300 to 400 metres from him. Impervious to the danger, he immediately steered his country boat towards the drowning man and managed to get hold of him.
His small boat sank in the process but Palia showed incredible courage and put his own life at risk to pull the elderly man safely to the river bank.
According to police, the rescued man Pratap Chandra Samal, a retired professor and a resident of Haldi Basant village in Bari Ramachandrapur of Jajpur district, was living with his family in Tamando area of Bhubaneswar.
Police said Samal had been mentally depressed following the death of his mother a few days ago. On Wednesday morning, he left home telling his family that he was going to the market to buy vegetables. Instead, he came to Cuttack in an autorickshaw and allegedly jumped into the Mahanadi from the bridge at around 10.45 am.
Passers-by who spotted him jumping immediately alerted the Jagatpur police. A police team along with fire service personnel rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.
However, by then, the strong current had carried Samal nearly 2-3 km downstream. The fire service personnel used a power boat but were unable to reach him.
It was Palia, who was fishing in his country boat nearby, noticed the man being swept away. Without hesitation, he turned his boat towards Samal and managed to rescue him.
Samal was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital for treatment and was later taken home by his family members.
Palia’s courage and presence of mind have drawn high praise from various quarters. Recognising his brave feat, Jagatpur police station IIC Prashant Sasmal awarded him a cash prize of `7,000.