KAZIRANGA, July 22 - An exemplary act on the part of the Range Officer of Eastern Range of Agaratoli and his dedicated team resulted in the saving of three innocent lives floating away in the Brahmaputra recently. This was a classic example of how people working in adverse environmental conditions went out of their way to save three men from drowning. This act has been appreciated by all.
Speaking to this correspondent, Surajit Dutta, former Director of Kaziranga National Park said that concerned Ranger Bidyut Bikas Bora of Agaratoli range and his team must be rewarded and given due recognition for their exemplary service towards saving human lives from the middle of the Brahmaputra.
Dutta said the Ranger being a new person had taken very precise and timely action and sent a staff member Bolin Bora in a speed boat to save the three men. This had set a good example and will definitely motivate other staff of Kaziranga forest to provide protection to both humans and wildlife, said Dutta.
Dutta felt that it was a very courageous act on the part of Bolin Bora who risked his own life and went out in a speed boat after getting instructions from the Ranger and managed to save the three.
Kaushik Baruah, Wildlife Warden said, �this incident had proved that the forest staff assigned for protection of wildlife also care for human lives during floods in Kaziranga. This was an exceptional act which helped those three men from drowning. We all must appreciate it.�
It is worth mentioning that three young men � Mohanjyoti Kutum, Shankar Pegu and Joy Guru � from Roundmukh under Biswanath district were on their country boat to Baroli chapori of Gohpur to cut green grasses for their livestock on the afternoon of July 19. But suddenly, when the three were still on their boat and cutting grass, their boat was pulled back by heavy water current of Brahmaputra river and capsized. The helpless men caught hold of their boat and started flowing away along with water current. Finding no help, they kept on shouting for help. But no one was there to listen to their ordeal.
Later, when they reached Maklung forest camp flowing along the water, they shouted again. This time a forest staff from Maklung forest camp heard their voice and spotted them hanging from something like a tree in the Brahmaputra river. He immediately alerted the nearby forest camp for any possible help. By the time it was evening and place was getting dark. On getting the information about the ordeal of the three men, Ranger Bidyut Bikas Bora immediately sent Bolin Bora in the speed boat to save them from drowning.
Timely and precise action on the part of ranger and the forest staff helped save the three men. They were later safely brought to Dhanbari village headman�s place and family members of the three persons were informed about the incident. On Monday, family members reached Agaratoli range and received the three who were saved from the jaw of death.
Uttam Saikia, Wildlife Warden of Kaziranga said that it was a very courageous act on the part of Kaziranga forest staff who risked their lives to save three men from middle of Brahmaputra river under the Eastern Range of Agaratoli.
