In a world that actively marvels over superhero figures wearing capes and who have flying abilities, six real-life heroes emerged last Friday, as they risked their lives to save 11 school children and one driver at Fulbari, 14 km south of Siliguri.

A small school vehicle, carrying 11 students, fell into the Fulbari Canal at 8:30 in the morning and as the vehicle started to sink, the boys jumped into the waters and pulled every student, and the driver, out to safety.

The six otherwise ordinary boys from Rahamu Jote, a remote village in the outskirts of Siliguri, were out on their usual morning walk on that day, when they were confronted with a situation they said they had not imagined in their wildest dreams.

“A pull car, later revealed to be carrying 11 school students, drove past us first, and after a while it returned, only to veer off the road and fall into the canal beside it,” Bishnu Karmakar said, as he narrated the incident that day..

“There were around 10 people along with us, and we all were busy chatting. At first, we didn’t know how to react, but I soon ran over to the site and dived into the water,” he added.

The five others said they followed Karmakar and took a plunge and started evacuating the students who had by then started drowning. “It was great teamwork, while other local people helped hold onto the partially sunken pull car us by quickly finding a rope and tying on to a car on the road,” Karmakar said.

“The boys’ remarkable physical and emotional stamina combined prevented what could have been into a devastating accident,” a Siliguri local said. “Three of us were engaged in pulling out the kids from the car that was already below the water level.

Initially, it seemed difficult for us, but we managed to get these kids out, while the others helped us in carrying them all the way to the safe roadside. At this point, a huge crowd gathered in the area, and we received more helping hands.

Eventually, we prepared to pull out the car out of the water with help from the locals. The police team and fire brigade personnel arrived much later,” another youth, Motilal Barman, said.

Acknowledging their bravery, the heroes-Karmakar, Barman, Sanjay Karmakar, Arun Singha, Pradip Singha, Shyamal Barman-were later felicitated by various organizations, including the Phansidewa Police Station under Darjeeling Police, and the Sky Watchers’ Association of North Bengal (SWAN).

As news of the accident spread like wildfire, people, including the parents and guardians of the school children, gathered at the spot, who later confirmed that none of the students were seriously injured in the entire incident, while they were discharged from the local hospitals after first aid.

At their office on Hill Cart Road here on 5 May, young SWAN members presented the youths with roses and gifts. “We will now try our level best to provide these young boys some vocational courses. We want them to make a good living, rather than just running errands in their villages,” said SWAN Secretary, Debashish Sarkar.