File picPresident Ramnath Kovind has awarded two Indian Air Force’s (IAF) officers the ‘Jeevan Raksha Padak’ for their meritorious act of human nature in saving the life of a person. The officers are Wing Commander Narender and Wing Commander PK Mishra. On October 20, 2016, the air warriors were on a 40-km cycling trip near Bhopal Lake, when they saw a car plunged into the deep lake and started sinking with a couple stuck inside. “Without giving a second thought for safety of their own life, they jumped into the lake and rescued them,” said IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee. Both the officers were also awarded with a lump sum monetary allowance of Rs one lakh each. The award is given in three categories, namely, Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak, Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak and Jeevan Raksha Padak. Persons of either sex in all walks of life are eligible for these awards. The award can also be conferred posthumously.
