Kozhikode: Courage is the quality that great leaders require and circumstances provide the opportunity to show it.
A.K. Adithya, the 15-year-old student of Venerini GHSS, Ramanattukara, proved his might by rescuing 40 passengers of a tourist bus that caught fire.
He avoided a great disaster, and now people from different regions are honouring him.
The incident took place on May 1 while he and his family were returning from Nepal after an excursion with another group of tourists.
They initially sensed the smell of diesel, which made them cautious.
After a while, its intensity started growing, and it made it difficult for them to climb down.
Sensing danger, some of them broke the windows to get the people out, but the fire was spreading into the vehicle by then. That was when Adithya showed his courage.
“I tried to break the emergency exit glass using a hammer first. But that attempt failed. I then tried with my leg, and it broke open,” Adithya narrated the rescue mission.
All the people rescued later returned on another bus as the fire had gutted their vehicle.
It was the bravery of Adithya and his presence of mind to take instant decisions that saved them. He was continuing his mission even after he got his leg injured.
“I had no other thoughts in my mind, but I never wanted them to die,” said the teenager who has become a hero. “Help others, then help yourselves.”
His ambition is to get into the National Defence Academy (NDA) and has decided to join the National Cadet Corps (NCC) this year.
His school has also decided to conduct an honouring ceremony for him.
His parents, Ajeesh and Ajini, are also proud of him.
“He saved us from death. How more could we be ever proud of our son?” Mr Ajeesh told DC.
