Traffic constable feted for rescuing eight in two fire incidents

Hyderabad: A traffic constable who risked his life to save eight people trapped in two separate fire accidents has been awarded the prestigious Jeevan Raksha Padak for his bravery.Bandakindi Shravan Kumar, 35, received the award from chief minister A Revanth Reddy during the Telangana formation day celebrations at Parade Grounds on Tuesday. The award recognises his courageous rescue operations during major fire incidents at Panjagutta Circle in Feb 2022 and Nagarjuna Circle in Dec 2023.Speaking to TOI, Shravan said fear was natural during such emergencies, but saving lives was part of his responsibility as a police officer. “I was scared, too, but my duty was to save the victims. Anyone present in such a situation would have tried to help,” he said.The first incident occurred on Feb 12, 2022, when a fire broke out on the third floor of a building near Panjagutta Circle, reportedly due to a short circuit. Shravan, who was on duty, rushed to the spot after receiving information over his wireless set. By then, the flames had engulfed the staircase, cutting off the only escape route for those trapped inside.Unable to enter through the stairs, he climbed to the terrace of a neighbouring building and jumped across to the affected structure. He then broke open a locked door and rescued a woman and her seven-year-old daughter trapped inside. He carried out the operation alone despite thick smoke and intense heat.Nearly two years later, on Dec 22, 2023, he responded to another fire emergency at Nagarjuna Circle. According to Shravan, the blaze—suspected to have originated from an air-conditioner vent following a short circuit—rapidly intensified after tyres and liquor bottles stored in the premises caught fire.Upon reaching the spot, he found six people trapped inside a penthouse. Ignoring the danger, he entered the building, broke open the door, and rescued all six occupants. Among them was a differently-abled young man who was unable to escape on his own.Shravan, a B Com graduate, joined the traffic police department in 2014 and currently serves as a constable. His actions in both incidents earned widespread appreciation within the police department and ultimately led to his selection for the Jeevan Raksha Padak, one of the country’s highest civilian awards for life-saving acts.