Ranandra Reang 
Birendra Tripura
They were struck by lightning and died on spot. WHO paid tributes to the two Pulse Polio warriors – but, their supreme sacrifices have faded away from our ‘memoryscape’ over time.
With no remembrance day, no martyrs’ column, even no mention in speeches by Ministers and public representatives, the two unsung Pulse Polio heroes of the State remain under the veil of ignorance and unawareness.
They just went into oblivion.
As the State is gearing to re-launch the Pulse Polio vaccination drive this month, the Government or for that matter the Health and Family Welfare department should take concrete steps to revive the memories of the son-of-the-soil and salute to the Pulse Polio warriors.
Recalling the tragic incident, Dr Kamal Reang, Member Secretary of NHM under State Health and Family Welfare department said, it was an overcast morning – two young health workers – Ranandra Reang and Birendra Tripura – collected the Pulse Polio kit from the Kalachhara PHC in Sabroom under South Tripura and were heading towards Madan Mani Anganwadi centre on May 15, 2005.
As they were moving forward to their destination amidst the anxious chirping of birds and intermittent gusty wind, thick clouds rolled in heralded by occasional thunder and lightning.
Ranandra Reang was the pharmacist while Birendra Tripura was a local volunteer in the crusade of making the country a polio-free nation.
“Both of them reached Madan Mani Anganwadi Centre (AWC) with the kits. Meantime, a thunderstorm with rains started. Both raced towards the windows of the AWC to close those – but huge lightning with a deafening cracking sound struck Reang and Tripura. And they died there”, Dr Kamal Reang recalled.
Dr Jagadish Nama, incumbent CMO of the South District who was deputed at Hrishyamukh health centre under Belonia Sub-division at that time, recalled the incident and said, he received the information later in the day and went to Kalachhara.
“As the report of the demise of two pulse polio warriors continued to spread, it reached the World Health Organization (WHO). Recognizing the contribution of Ranandra Reang and Birendra Tripura, WHO gave certificates to the family members along with financial assistance”, Dr Nama said.
Incumbent MOIC of Kalachhara PHC, Sailendra Tripura said, the wife of Ramendra Reang got a job in the die-in-harness scheme. The MOIC also pointed out local people and PHC staffs still remember the duo for their supreme sacrifice.
As Birendra Tripura was not a government employee, his family members have to live with nothing, but harsh reality and memories of Birendra.
“It is pity that most of the young people of Sabroom-subdivision have never heard of the sacrifice of the two health workers. It is pertinent that the State Government brings out the supreme sacrifice of these two health workers to the fore and pay due respects to them.
Courtesy Tripura Times
