Selfless sacrifice: Manipur farmer dies while saving minor girl from drowning

Guwahati: Lalnghetlien, a poor farmer from a remote village in Manipur called Tieulien, had longed for a better life and to give good education facilities to his children by working days and nights until his fate led him to an untimely demise on Sunday, July 5.

This brave son of the soil did not think twice before putting his life in danger to save a girl, who was drowning in a river. The farmer lost his life in a successful bid to save an 8-year-old girl named Lasangpui who was drowning in the Barak river. Lalnghetlien was 50-years-old and a father to three young children.

Tieulien village authority chairman L. Ramhnai revealed that the unfortunate incident happened on Sunday at around 6 am when Lasangpui, who was cleaning a lunch (motorboat), fell off and was drowning in the river.

Lalnghetlien had just returned to his home from a church after morning prayer when he heard the girl screaming for help. He quickly rushed to the river, which is only a few meters away from the village. Without even bothering to strip off his clothes, he plunged into the river and pulled the girl towards the river bank.

Rahmani said that, although the young man saved the girl, he was unable to swim back towards the bank as swallowed up by the currents. He further informed that the victim's body in its lifeless form was fished out of the river one hour later.

Lalnghetlien was a poor farmer and the sole earning member of the family and is survived by 3 children and his wife Lalhrietpui, is a differently-abled person. Lalnghetlien's main source of income was from jhum cultivation and locals say that his biggest desire had been to send his young children to good schools for a better education. However, he died before that dream would come true.

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