Chennai, August 16: Sabeena, a nurse from the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu who risked her life to save over 35 lives by travelling through a zipline by tightly holding the First Aid kit to treat those stuck in the landslides in Wayanad last month, was honoured with the state government’s Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin presented the award to Sabeena at the Independence Day celebrations on Thursday.
Sabeena said she got a call from her colleagues at an NGO about the requirement of nurses in Wayanad around 11am on July 30, following which she immediately left for the landslide-ravaged area.
“I had seen footage of the destruction, of bodies strewn everywhere and houses getting washed away, but that did not stop me. I wanted to do what I could to help,” she said. “We helped 35 people on the island with medical treatment. The NDRF forces managed to bring them back using the zip-line,” she said.
The National Disaster Response Force set up a zipline to rescue the injured persons on the other side. However, the injuries were so severe that they could not be lifted for further treatment without First Aid.
“About 100 women nurses were doing various tasks but the NDRF forces wanted only male nurses to zip-line, but no one was available. Also, the women were too scared because of the fierce current,” she said. “I told them I would cross over. From the moment I reached there, my only thought was saving lives. I did not think about my own anymore.”
Over the next few days, the nurse Sabeen ziplined across the river 10 times to treat those stranded in the island.
Sabeena, wearing a raincoat by tightly holding the First Aid kit with her, travelled without any fear of the raging river. “Her only goal was to save maximum lives,” the government said.
Her act of bravery was revealed after videos of her zip-lining were shared on social media by residents of her village. Sabeena is so passionate about her profession that her only daughter is also doing B.Sc. (Nursing).
“The post went viral and reached Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin who invited me to the secretariat to honour me. It all happened just a few days ago and I am so happy about getting this award from the chief minister,” she said. “I believe everybody has to join hands during disasters irrespective of differences of language, caste, class and religion.”
At least 229 persons died, and over 130 continue to remain missing in the disaster.
