Bravery award for Tehri boy

Jotirmay Thapliyal

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Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 16

Sixteen-year-old Pankaj Semwal, who saved his mother from a leopard in Tehri Garhwal district, will be bestowed with the National Bravery Award this Republic Day in Delhi.

A student of Class XII, Pankaj hails from Nargaad village in the Dharmandal area of Tehri Garhwal district. He saved his mother Bimla Devi from the jaws of death when she was attacked by a prowling leopard in 2016. Hearing his mother’s screams, he rushed towards her and saw a leopard attacking her. Pankaj’s siblings were also standing beside her. 

Pankaj’s father passed away some time ago and he supports his family by taking tutions. He also helps his mother in household chores.

Sushil Chandra, senior vice-president of the Uttarakhand State Council for Child Welfare, said Pankaj Semwal was an inspiration for many. 

Last year too, Sumit Mamgain, a teenage boy from the state, was honoured with this award for saving his cousin from the clutches of a leopard. Even before, another teenage boy, Arjun, was felicitated with the National Bravery Award-2015 for displaying bravery while fighting a tiger to save his mother.