Seventeen-year-old Kareena Thapa from Amravati has been selected for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her bravery in saving 70 families during a fire at Jai Amba Apartment. The honour will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu on December 26 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, coinciding with Veer Bal Diwas.
On the evening of May 15, 2024, smoke began billowing from a second-floor flat in the B wing of Jai Amba Apartment, near Podar International School on Kathora Road. Amidst the chaos, Kareena, a domestic help, sprang into action. She broke into the locked neighboring flat, braved thick smoke and flames, and tackled a fire near a gas cylinder. Using buckets of water, she controlled the blaze and dragged the cylinder out, preventing a potential explosion. Her quick thinking and bravery averted a major disaster, earning her widespread admiration.
Kareena’s bravery caught the attention of the local Women and Child Development Department, which forwarded her nomination for the national award through the District Collector. After a detailed review by the Union Ministry, she was selected for the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, which honors outstanding courage, innovation, and social service among India’s youth.
Kareena’s courageous act not only saved lives but also showcased the remarkable potential of ordinary individuals in extraordinary situations.