We have come across many stories of people doing extraordinary acts of bravery, but this story of a 11-year-old boy from Assam stands out for its rarity. Kamal Kishore Das risked his life thrice and saved the lives of his mother and aunt after the boat they were on capsized in Brahmaputra river near Guwahati. Das braved the ferocious currents of the Brahmaputra river as he pulled to safety three people, including his mother, aunt and a stranger, who ultimately did not survive.
After the boat hit a rock, Kamal’s mother asked him to swim to safety, but as the teenager reached ashore he realised his mother does not know how to swim. In the next 20 minutes, Kamal dived thrice into the river to save the lives of the others.
“I swam towards the accident site and glimpsed my mother. The currents were so strong, I could only grab her by the hair, then I reached for her hand and pulled her to the pillar, Suddenly I saw a woman at a distance who looked like my aunt.I dived again and pulled her to the pillar,” he told Times of India.
After rescuing his mother and aunt, he spotted another woman in a burqa with a child in her arms struggling to stay afloat, he dived right back in to tried to bring them to safety. Unfortunately, the child slipped, and the mother jumped back in to save her baby before Kamal could do anything further to help. The mother and child were lost to the strong current of the Brahmaputra.
The boat capsized after the engine developed a snag and hit a rock near the bank of the Ashwaklanta Temple, Kamrup Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kumar Baishya told the PTI.
The 11-year-old has become a social media sensation and is being lauded for risking his own lives to save others.
I salute the courage and bravery of this 11 year old boy from Assam who risked his life thrice to save precious lives. Well done Kamal Kishore! You are indeed a braveheart. https://t.co/KmdFKeBYFM
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 7, 2018
The “Putra” in BRAHMAPUTRA a 11 year old Kamal Assam, bravely saves mother and Aunt after a boat capsized in the flooded river. Deserves National Gallantry award .
— jai shivaji (@arcs29031951) September 8, 2018
The young Braveheart Kamal Kishore Das should be rewarded with Bravery award. He saved his mother’s and aunt’s life. Then he saved himself…. Hats off. #BrahmaputraBoatCapsize#Brahmaputra@mygovassam@assampolice
— Musaddique (@dragonhook) September 7, 2018
Now this is the story of a real hero, the story of this 11 year old has touched hearts. A braveheart, indeed #KamalKishoreDas #AssamBoatTragedy #RealHeroesOfIndia @pratidinasomiya @NewsAssam @DY365 https://t.co/zvj0rZO4Hx
— Aparajita Dey (@AparajitaDey9) September 7, 2018
