Andhra School Warden Carries Ill Student on Back Through Forest Terrain

A tribal welfare school warden carried a seriously ill 11-year-old student on her back for nearly three kilometres through rocky forest terrain in Andhra Pradesh's Parvathipuram Manyam district to ensure the child received urgent medical treatment. The incident occurred on June 30 and came to wider attention after a video of the difficult rescue surfaced and went viral on Thursday.

The student, Bhuvaneswari, is a Class 7 pupil at the Bhadragiri Tribal Welfare Girls Ashram School in Gummalakshmipuram. She had returned to her native Vadaputti village during the holidays and was staying with her family. The girl, who has been living with her paternal uncle after losing her father, developed severe stomach pain, vomiting and high fever.

Her family initially took her to the government hospital at Kurupam, but her condition worsened again after she returned home. With no proper road or transport facilities connecting the remote tribal hamlet, the family informed the school authorities. School warden Hemani immediately travelled to the village and found that the student's health was deteriorating and required urgent medical attention.

Realising that waiting for an ambulance or additional assistance could cause further delay, Hemani secured the weakened child to her back with a cloth and began walking across nearly three kilometres of rocky and uneven forest terrain. The student's family accompanied her during the difficult journey until they reached Nellikekkuva village, where a vehicle was waiting to take the girl to hospital.

Bhuvaneswari was then rushed to the Government District Hospital in Parvathipuram, where she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit because of the seriousness of her condition. District Medical and Health Officer Dr Bhaskara Rao said senior health officials visited the hospital and confirmed that the student was recovering under medical supervision.

Hemani said her only concern was saving her student and that a child's life had to come before the difficulties involved. Her actions received widespread appreciation, and Women, Child Welfare and Tribal Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhyarani felicitated her with a shawl. The minister praised Hemani for going beyond her duty and described her commitment as an example of true public service.