OSD shows exemplary courage, saves many lives

- Ch V Appala Naidu, OSD at Vizianagaram retrieved over 15 bodies, rescued about 20 victims

Kuneru/Parvathipuram (Vizianagaram): A young and courageous police officer helped a number of victims in the train accident on Saturday in Kuneru in Vizianagaram district. Immediately after getting the information regarding the accident, Ch V Appala Naidu, Officer on Special Duty at Vizianagaram rushed to the spot with his team. Though he was shocked to see the situation there, he quickly responded to the task at hand, got some ropes and other rescue material and got in into the train compartments, which were crushed.

Naidu lifted the bodies which were crushed between the seats and berths. After he brought them out he asked his subordinates to check their status and if found alive, immediately rush them to the hospital in an ambulance. His tireless pursuit included directing his staff to find if any moaning or screaming from the compartments was heard and telling them to rescue the trapped passengers.

As per the eyewitness, Naidu, himself had pulled around 15 bodies from the bogies and he could save about 20 persons who were crammed in the damaged bogies. Naidu used the wireless set continuously and communicated to the higher officials and coordinated with the teams in the rescue operations.

A survivor, K Madan who is in Parvathipuram area hospital said: “A police officer heard my shouts and pulled me out of the bogie. I fell down between the berths and shouted for help. He listened to my voice and dropped a rope, and pulled me out. Otherwise I would have been crushed there.” He explained. On Monday DIG of North Andhra, Srikanth appreciated the team work of police.