For a brave new world | Making A Difference

EKAL SILWAL

On 6 June, the country came to a standstill when the Maoists bombed a passenger bus in Madi, Chitwan, killing 36 people. The worst attack on innocent civilians by the Maoists in the history of the insurgency It was a shocking sight, especially for the young school children of Harinagar, to see so many dead bodies lying around. But their instinct to help fellow Nepalis galvanised them into action. While the country watched in shock and dismay, a group of 25 students from Madi bravely provided immediate relief to survivors.

"We managed to control the bleeding of many people by bandaging them," says Amrit Gayak, a grade eight student of Madi High School who also works with the Junior Red Cross Circle. The students lifted the injured passengers and put them in tractors and oxcarts, and dispatched them to the nearest health centre. Others were engaged in securing the area by placing ropes to avoid any more risk to the survivors and to prevent them from losing their money, jewellery and other belongings.

"We carried our Red Cross flag and suppressed our emotions in order to help them," says Amrit. Hari Krishna Lamichhane, another student adds, "We managed not to show any weakness to the wounded people."

The students became afraid when they saw guns and ammo clips lying on the ground but later they handed over all these to the five RNA soldiers who were sitting in the shade of a Sisham tree some 100m away. Students of Birendra Rastriya Primary School left their class to carry buckets of drinking water for the wounded. Encouraged by the brave children, adult villagers also joined in to provide help.

Such voluntary and brave spirit displayed by the local residents of Madi was so overwhelming that it led to the ICRC calling them 'model citizens'. Today, WAVE salutes the brave young citizens of Madi for their courage, compassion, and determination.