A tribute to unsung heroes

ACTS of courage are often immortalised in history books, recounted in war stories or narrated by elders around a bonfire. Yet true bravery is not confined to the battlefield. It often emerges in the unlikeliest moments — when fear overwhelms many people, and an individual dares to act. One such incident happened in December 2013 at a construction site on the premises of Babina Military Station (Uttar Pradesh), where raw human valour provided a lasting lesson in courage.

It was a crisp, sunlit winter morning. Labourers were curing a freshly laid slab of a building with water. Watan Singh, the site foreman, was supervising the work, making sure that every part of the slab was evenly coated to prevent cracks.

Then, without a warning, the calm was shattered. A piercing scream tore through the air. Ramji, one of the labourers, suddenly began slapping his face and neck wildly. Soon, it became clear that he was under attack by a swarm of honeybees.

Ramji’s desperate cries echoed across the site, but panic spread faster than help. Workers dropped their tools and fled out of fear. No one dared to climb the ladder to the rooftop where Ramji staggered helplessly. He slipped and fell face down into the shallow layer of water covering the slab. The bees continued their relentless assault.

Lance Naik BB Rao, who was nearby, witnessed the chaos and reacted without hesitation. Grabbing two blankets, he wrapped one around himself as makeshift protection and ran towards the building. As he climbed the ladder, the bees attacked him instantly. Some entered his blanket and stung him. But Rao pushed forward through the excruciating pain. Reaching Ramji, he threw the second blanket over him and tried to drag him towards the ladder.

But the bees vented their fury on Rao. Their unrelenting stings weakened him rapidly. Still, he managed to pull Ramji a few feet before collapsing near the edge of the slab. Barely conscious, he somehow descended the ladder — his courage paving the way for others. Seeing this, Watan Singh realised that delay would mean certain death for Ramji. Summoning all his courage, he wrapped himself in another blanket and climbed into the seething swarm. The bees attacked immediately, but Watan pressed on, reached the unconscious Ramji, and with immense effort dragged him to the edge. Workers below, emboldened by his bravery, pulled both men down to safety.

They were rushed to the nearby military hospital, where Major S Kaur and her nursing assistant acted swiftly — removing over a hundred stings from Ramji and others, administering anti-allergic medication and stabilising his breathing.

That day, three individuals stood tall — Rao, whose instinctive bravery sparked the rescue; Watan, whose determination pulled a dying man from the brink; and Major Kaur, whose timely expertise ensured survival. Their actions reaffirm a timeless truth: heroism is not about rank or circumstance — it is about refusing to look away when a life hangs in the balance.

Bravo to these unsung heroes — when no one dared, they did.