Father receives bravery award for her departed daughter

Pothashang News Service

Imphal, January 25: Father of the brave heart late Loukrakpam Rajeshwori on Wednesday received National Bravery Award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a function in New Delhi.

The award was honoured to  Rajeshwori Chanu gave her life saving Inunganbi (3 years) and another girl Rajeshwori Chanu, 13 years and seven months old, from drowning in the Imphal river. The incident occurred on the afternoon of 10 November, 2016. Ongbi Kebisana was crossing a wooden suspension bridge alongwith her daughter Inunganbi (3 years) and another girl Rajeshwori Chanu. The wooden bridge built over the 167 feet wide Imphal river was in a dilapidated condition due to lack of repairs. The little girl stumbled & fell into the river through a hole. Her mother instantly jumped into the water to save her child. But as she did not know swimming, she too started to drown. Seeing this, Rajeshwori Chanu too plunged into the 30 feet deep water. With resolute spirit, she caught hold of the child & her mother and pushed them towards the shore. But as she reached near the shore, she was severely exhausted due to her prolonged struggle in the deep water & cried out for help. The screams were heard by some people from the nearby area who picked up both mother and child. However, Rajeshwori Chanu was carried away by the turbulent stream and could not be traced. After three days of search, her body was recovered from the river.

Rajeshwori Chanu made the supreme sacrifice of her life in her bravest of brave efforts to rescue from death two precious lives.

She was among seven girl children out of 18 selected for the bravery award. The child awardees are supposed to participate in the in the Republic Day Parade 2018 at the Rajpath. But for Rajeshori it won’t be so.