Three men who rescued a six-year-old girl from Hussainsagar lake after she was allegedly pushed into the water by her mother were felicitated by Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar on Wednesday. The Commissioner presented cash awards to autorickshaw driver Fakruddin, private employee K. Balakrishna and businessman Mohammed Afsar for their courage and presence of mind.
According to the police, the child was allegedly pushed into the lake at Tank Bund by her mother, who then fled the spot. The woman, from Bowenpally, reportedly has two daughters aged eight and six. Police said the younger child had been suffering from an illness for around two months and that her mother was distressed by the medical expenses.
The police said the woman brought both children to Tank Bund and sent the elder daughter away on the pretext of buying ice cream. She allegedly pushed the six-year-old into Hussainsagar when no one was watching before leaving the area.
The child managed to hold on to a bamboo pole in the water and screamed for help. K. Balakrishna, a resident of Moti Nagar in Borabanda, heard her cries and alerted people nearby. Fakruddin, who was travelling along Tank Bund in his autorickshaw, stopped after noticing the commotion and entered the lake.
With the assistance of Mohammed Afsar, a resident of Nacharam, Fakruddin pulled the girl out of the water and brought her to the road. Patrolling police personnel reached the location after receiving information and shifted the child to Gandhi Hospital for treatment, according to the police.
The incident highlights the role of passers-by and nearby workers in responding to emergencies in a heavily used public space. The rescue was carried out before the arrival of the patrolling personnel, with the three men coordinating after the girl’s cries drew attention.
The Hyderabad Police Commissioner’s office later recognised the men with cash awards at a felicitation programme. The police have attributed the account of the incident and the circumstances leading to the rescue to their investigation.
