VALPOI: Sahil Bhiso Laad from Betkekar wada, Valpoi, who braved a flowing deep river and saved the lives of two of the three brothers, Imran, 13, and Rehan, 10, while risking his own life, has been feted by locals with many now calling for the 17-year- old lad to be awarded for his bravery. The body of the third and elder brother was also recovered by Sahil.
On November 9 Sahil’s mother Ranjana and sister Shraddha, who were washing clothes on the bank of the Mhadei river in their village at Betkekar wada saw three brothers drowning after they were swept away by currents. They immediately alerted Sahil who jumped into the river and managed to save two of the three brothers. Unfortunately, the elder brother lost his life in the river, Sahil managed to pull out the two brothers from the river.
Valpoi residents have praised this act of bravery and appreciated him for his selfless act while requesting the government to honour Sahil with a bravery award.
Narrating the incident Sahil said that he felt sad when he saw the body of the older boy floating in the river. He said that while he managed to save the two, one life he could not save.
Sahil who is a student of Class XII at the Government Higher Secondary School, Valpoi, said, “My mother and sister came running to me and told me that due to strong currents the three brothers were getting swept into deep water. My uncle Sagar and I jumped into the river and started looking for the three.”
He added that after 10 minutes he managed to bring out the 10-year-old boy who was in a semi-conscious state and administered him first aid and later a local shifted the youngster to Valpoi community health centre in his vehicle. “I went in again and started searching in the river. I saw the second brother who was holding on to branches in deep water. I swam and brought him safely to the bank of the river and ventured again and continued looking for the third boy but sadly I found a floating body deep into water which I fished out,” he said.
Sahil was felicitated by the Valpoi police station and a local NGO. Valpoi police inspector Harish Gawas said, “There are very few people who help others by risking their own lives and Sahil is one of them. This boy has done a commendable job by saving two lives,” Gawas said.
Health minister and Valpoi MLA Vishwajit Rane said, “I am really proud of Sahil Laad, a youth from Valpoi who, without even a thought jumped into the river to save two precious lives. I will be recommending to the chief minister to present Sahil Laad with a bravery award to honour his bold act.”
Councillor of Valpoi Municipal Council Idris Shaikh said that the courageous act is highly appreciated. “I am very proud that Sahil is from my ward. I request the state government to kindly consider Sahil’s name for the bravery award as he dared to dive into the deep river to bring back the drowning children from the brink of death,” Shaikh said.
