In daring rescue, students carry two pregnant teachers to safety in flood-hit Mandi

In a remarkable act of courage and compassion, two pregnant teachers from the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Thunag, Mandi district, were carried to safety on foot through treacherous terrain by their students and colleagues. Their heroic efforts not only saved the lives of the expectant mothers but also helped bring two newborns into the world.

Dr Neha Thakur delivered a healthy baby boy on July 8 at the Civil Hospital in Sundernagar, Mandi, while Dr Sarita gave birth to a baby girl on July 12 at Sai Hospital in Hamirpur. Without this daring rescue, the lives of both mothers and their unborn children could have been in grave danger.

The rescue took place amid the devastation caused by relentless rains in the Seraj region, which severed road access, disrupted power and water supplies and left over 115 homes and 100 shops damaged. Tragically, five lives were lost in Thunag alone. Stranded in the disaster-stricken area, Dr Neha and Dr Sarita, both nearing their due dates, urgently needed medical care.

With roads impassable and emergency services unable to reach the remote college, students and faculty members banded together on July 2 for an extraordinary mission. They fashioned makeshift palanquins and embarked on an arduous 11-km trek from Thunag to Bagsyad, navigating dangerous mountain paths, swollen streams and unstable terrain.

Leading the heroic effort were students, including Prikshit Verma, Shivang, Tushar Thakur, Uday Thakur, Dipak Thakur, Aryan, Vineet, Aryan Atri, Ayushman and others. They not only carried the palanquins but also provided unwavering moral support and protection throughout the perilous journey. The two teachers displayed incredible resilience, walking stretches where the path was too narrow or hazardous even for a makeshift stretcher.

Faculty members such as Dr Himani, Dr Rajat, Dr Ajinder, Dr Jai Pal, Dr Kishore Sharma, Dr Kishore Thakur, Dr Vijay Rana, Kuldeep and Neem Chand played crucial roles in the operation. Dean Dr PL Sharma oversaw the entire effort, ensuring coordination and safety amid the chaos.

This inspiring act of humanity has drawn widespread admiration, with messages of praise and gratitude flooding social media. In a time marked by destruction and despair, the courage of the students, faculty, and the unwavering strength of the two mothers gave the region a reason to celebrate new life and hope.

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