SHIMLA: A 42-year-old
Shimla
homemaker proved to be a real heroine when she breathed life into an injured soldier. Quick thinking by this resident of
Kotkhai
area of Shimla saved the life of an
Army jawan who had lost his footing while trying to escape a pack of dogs, and plunged into a 50-ft deep roadside ditch.
This happened on August 20, when a group of Army men from Jutogh Cantt, were out on a routine morning run, and encountered the canines at
Banuti
area, around 12 km from Shimla. Panicked by the sight of the ferocious pack, one of the soldiers,
Mukesh Kumar, fell into a pit while fleeing from them. His head hit a stone rendering him unconscious. Aghast on seeing him lying prone and motionless, his colleagues began calling out for help.
Veena Sharma, 42, the good Samaritan, rushed there on hearing their cries for help. Even as the soldiers' mates stood by helplessly thinking him to be dead, she lost no time in trying to revive him by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
"Putting the unconscious soldier's head on my lap, I tried to revive him, pumping his chest until he stirred and groaned in pain. That was when we realised that he was still alive," Veena said.
The immediate problem she said was how to transport him to hospital as hardly any vehicle plied on the Banuti link road. "Finding no other way to shift the injured man, I called my 72-year-old father
Ramesh Sharma, who rarely drives these days, to bring the car. Since none of the soldiers knew how to drive, it was left to my father to transport the injured soldier to Jutogh military hospital," she added. He was then referred to
Indira Gandhi Medical College
and Hospital, Shimla, where timely specialised treatment saved his life.
Kumar
, a general duty soldier, belongs to
Fatehpur
area of
Kangra
in
Himachal Pradesh
.
When the other soldiers informed their seniors about this, the Army officials came to Veena's house on August 26 to thank her and handed over a memento and appreciation letter signed by
Assam Rifles
commanding officer. The
CO of Ist Battalion of Assam Regiment
Col
Deepak Kataria
said in his letter: "Because of your exceptional act, the individual was able to receive immediate medical attention through specialised doctors which saved his life."
Speaking to TOI, Kumar said, "I cannot thank this brave woman enough for saving my life. I have been sent home on leave to Fatehpur to rest but I want to meet her as soon as possible."
Banuti's pradhan
Banti Thakur
, too lauded Veena.
This is not the first time that Veena has helped someone this way. Ten years back, this doughty woman had acted with speed to save the life of a boy injured in a bus accident.