Miner honoured posthumously

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 8

Amritsar-based mine engineer, Jaswant Singh Gill, was honoured posthumously with “The Legend of Punjab” award by the All-India Human Rights Organisation in Ludhiana on Sunday.

The award was received by his wife Nirdosh Gill and son Dr Sarpreet Singh Gill.

Bumba Mukherjee, chairman, All India Human Rights Organisation, said the award was bestowed upon Gill in recognition of his outstanding act and unparallel bravery in saving 65 coal miners trapped in the flooded Mahabir coalmine in Raniganj area of West Bengal on November 16, 1989.

Jarnail Singh, chief, All India Human Rights Organisation, said Gill worked with the state-owned Coal India and rescued the miners with a help of a special capsule.

Earlier, Gill was conferred “Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak” by the then President of India, Ramaswamy Venkataraman, in November 1991, said Manmohan Chaggar of the organisation.

In November 2013, Gill was also recognised with “Special Award for Outstanding Contribution Made in Saving Lives of Trapped Miners” along with a cheque for Rs one lakh during the 39th Foundation Day ceremony of Coal India in Kolkata.

Gill succumbed to a cardiac arrest in November 2019 at the age of 80, leaving behind a poignant legacy of bravery and heroism.

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