Schoolgirl, 12, hailed as a hero after she saved FIVE drowning children, then fainted as she battled to rescue a sixth

Rescuer: Rozy points to the pond where she saved five children from drowning

At the age of just 12, Rosy Ara, daughter of a daily wage labourer, showed exemplary courage in saving five children from drowning in pond in Morsandha village in Katihar district.



Rosy, a Class VII student of a government school, single-handedly pulled out five kids - Mohammed Farhan (7), Mehak Ara (6), Dolly Khatoon (8), Mohammed Jehan (9) and Mohammed Sameer (8) - who fell into the pond while trying to pluck some plants on Sunday.



Rosy was near the pond when she heard cries and ran in the direction only to find six children drowning in the water body. She wasted no time in jumping into the pond and swimming each child back to safety.



She first helped Mohammed Farhan out of the pond, then swam Mehak Ara back to safety. Rosy continued her rescue effort and saved Dolly Khatoon, Mohammed Jehan and Mohammed Sameer in quick succession.



By the time she swam the fifth child out of the pond, Rosy had lost all her strength. She tried to return to rescue the sixth child - seven-year-old Farhan - but her body did not support her courage.



Rosy fainted on the banks as little Farhan drowned in the pond.



A large number of villagers who rushed to the spot thereafter took Rosy and all the rescued children to the local primary centre for treatment.



After regaining consciousness, Rosy regretted not being able to save Farhan who also happened to be her cousin.



She said that she would have saved him had she not lost consciousness. Her father Mohammed Ashfaque, a mason by profession, said not only his family but the entire village is proud of Rosy's act of bravery.



"I want my daughter to join the army in future," Ashfaque said proudly.

Recovering: Rosy and the children she saved pictured at a primary health centre in Bihar's Katihar district

Parents of the rescued children said they would always remain indebted to her.

Calling her an angel, Parvez Alam, father of one of the children, said few people could have risked their lives the way Rosy did. "We pray to God for her speedy recovery," he said.



Asked about her swimming skills, Rosy said her participation in a district-level competition in adjoining Purnia district last year had motivated her to learn swimming.



"I used to practice a lot in the village pond for the event, which gave me enough stamina," she said.



Rosy's feat has earned her accolades from the district authorities. The local block officials have assured her family that her name would be recommended for a bravery award.



