Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Fire and Emergency Services successfully rescued a 14-year-old boy from a narrow rock crevice in Kanipada forest after a grueling six-hour operation. Director General of Fire Services Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, who was present at the site, announced a cash reward of Rs. 25,000 to the rescue team for their extraordinary courage and dedication.
The boy from Gaintara village under Shardapur panchayat in Nayagarh district had gone to the hills to collect honey when he accidentally got stuck in the treacherous rock crevice. Upon receiving the information, a team from the Nayagarh and Odgaon Fire Station immediately launched the rescue operation. Personnel from the Striking Fire Force (Central Range) rushed to the spot to provide critical support.
Using modern equipment including Hydraulic Ram Jack, Cutter, and Spreader, the firefighters carefully widened the crevice and safely extracted the boy. The entire operation was monitored in real-time from the State Command Centre in Bhubaneswar under the supervision of Fire Services IG Dr. Uma Shankar Dash and Chief Fire Officer Ramesh Chandra Majhi.
The rescuers faced extremely challenging conditions, including attacks by a huge python and swarms of honeybees. Despite the dangers, the team continuously communicated with the boy, encouraging him and keeping his morale high so he would not lose mental balance. Local residents also assisted the firefighters by driving away the bees and python by throwing stones.
DG Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi lauded the efforts, describing the successful rescue as a historic moment for the Odisha Fire Services. He specially appreciated the coordination between the fire personnel and the local public.
Key officers present during the operation included Fire Officer Trilok Kumar Babu, DFO Puri Santosh Panigrahi, Striking Fire Force Assistant, Fire Officer Kunu Nayak, and over 40 dedicated field staff. After the successful six-hour rescue, the boy was shifted to the Odgaon Community Health Center
