The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Official goes beyond his call of duty

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Thursday, Jan 06, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Official goes beyond his call of duty

By Our Staff Reporter

The Governor, Sushil Kumar Shinde, presenting a letter of appreciation and memento to the Mandal Development Officer, Balu Naik, on Wednesday.

NIZAMPATNAM (GUNTUR DIST.), JAN. 5. It was one of those ordinary Sundays for Balu Naik, the Nizampatnam Mandal Development Officer, when he as usual went round villages to redress people's grievances.

He was following the routine at the fishermen hamlet close to the sea near Nizampatnam village when tsunami struck, taking away boats and nets near the mouth of the river. Finding that some fishermen were struggling to come back to the shore after the first wave of the tsunami attack, without thinking twice, Balu Naik took to the sea.

Good at swimming and having some touch with steering a country boat, he lost no time in reaching the fishermen in distress. At a time when majority of others on the shore had barely come out of shock, Balu Naik successfully brought all the six back to the shore.

The fate of another 500 seafaring fishermen was not immediately known. Fortunately, only seven lives were lost and the rest returned in the next couple of days.

A big pat from all

Even before he got orders from the district administration, he began relief operations on a micro scale.

Recognising this, the district administration recommended a letter of appreciation from the Governor, Sushil Kumar Shinde, during his visit to Nizampatnam on Wednesday.

The Governor made mention of the MDO's heroic act at the public meeting and presented him a memento.

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