Tamil Nadu nurse becomes a hero in Wayanad with daring zip-line rescue
The rescue mission's unlikely hero was A. Sabeena, a 40-year-old nurse from Gudalur town in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district. For five consecutive days, Sabeena risked her life by zip-lining across the turbulent river, ultimately saving 35 lives. Her incredible bravery and selflessness earned her the prestigious Kalpana Chawla Award for daring and courageous enterprise during the Independence Day celebrations, along with a cash prize of ₹5 lakh.
Sabeena received the call for help on the morning of July 30. Her colleagues at the NGO where she worked informed her that the Kerala government urgently needed nurses in Wayanad. Without hesitation, Sabeena packed her bags and embarked on a 70-kilometer journey to the disaster-stricken area, braving heavy rain, strong winds, and knee-deep mud. Despite having seen footage of the devastation, with bodies scattered and houses washed away, Sabeena remained undeterred, driven by her determination to assist those in need.
Upon arrival, Sabeena discovered that people were trapped on the opposite side of the river, with no way to deliver medical aid. The Chaliyar River's currents were too powerful for rescuers to swim across, so the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of Kerala had constructed a zip-line to facilitate access. However, the situation was far from ideal—while about 100 female nurses were performing various tasks, the NDRF preferred male nurses for the zip-line crossings due to the dangerous conditions. Yet, no male nurses were available, and the female nurses
