Orissa disaster force mourns braveheart

He died after saving 60; Dont know how his wife,mother will survive shock.

The 60 villagers rescued from rising floodwaters in Mathura village of Orissas Jajpur district on Friday spent the first few hours in prayer for a constable they never got to thank in person.

Aseem Kanungo,29,of the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force,drowned when his boat hit a submerged tubewell,after his unit had helped the 60 to safety.

Kanungo had got married in July this year. He had been rushed to Puris Gop block after the first round of floods in the Mahanadi system early this month. On September 23,he was deployed in Jajpur,where the swollen Baitarani had marooned Mathura village.

Kanungo hit his head on the tubewell and never surfaced.

When his bloated body was recovered on Sunday,we saw a deep injury mark near the eye, said Prashant Kumar Nayak,assistant commandant,ODRAF.

He was among the best… He was also a fine swimmer. Its a great loss, said Nayak,whose 400-strong ODRAF team works under the Orissa State Disaster Management Authority.

A native of Badamulei village in Cuttack district,Kanungo had joined the Orissa State Armed Police seven years ago,after the death of his father,also a policeman. His work during the 2004 and 2008 floods had been appreciated.

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I am heartbroken. I had been to his wedding in July. I dont know how his young bride and ageing mother will survive the shock, said Kanungos uncle Panchanan Kanungo,a former finance minister.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 7 lakh ex-gratia,and said the state would recommend his name to the President for a bravery award. His family would get Rs 1 lakh from the state government,among other compensation.