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Haldwani: In an inspiring story of determination, four B.Ed students from Balotra, Rajasthan, hired a helicopter to reach their exam centre in Munsiyari, Uttarakhand, after landslides and heavy rains blocked all road routes. The students’ bold decision helped them save their academic year.
The four students — Omaram Choudhary (Nevri), Magaram Choudhary (Sindhari), Prakash Choudhary (Bankiyavas), and Lucky Choudhary (Gida) — are pursuing a B.Ed degree by correspondence from Uttarakhand Open University. All of them are currently working as third-grade teachers in different schools.
Final exams were scheduled in Munsiyari, Uttarakhand
Their final semester exam was scheduled on September 3 at RS Tolia PG College in Munsiyari. The students left Jodhpur by train on September 1 and reached Haldwani on September 2. From there, they had planned to travel about 280–300 kilometers by road to reach Munsiyari.
Roads were blocked due to the landslides
However, upon reaching Haldwani, they were informed that roads to Munsiyari, especially the Haldwani-Pithoragarh and Tanakpur-Pithoragarh routes, were closed due to landslides caused by continuous heavy rainfall. Taxi drivers also refused to go forward due to dangerous road conditions.
Aviation company made special arrangements for them
Worried that they would miss their final exam and lose a whole academic year, the students looked for alternate options. They came to know about a helicopter service operating in the region and immediately contacted Heritage Aviation’s CEO, explaining their situation. Understanding the urgency, the company made special arrangements and sent a helicopter along with two pilots. The students boarded the helicopter in Haldwani and reached Munsiyari safely within 40 minutes, a journey that usually takes 10 hours by road.
Took the same helicopter to return
After successfully appearing for their final semester exam at the exam centre, the students took the same helicopter back to Haldwani. Each student paid around Rs 5,200 for a one-way ticket, totaling Rs 10,400 for the round trip. While it was not a small amount, the students said it was worth it to save a year of hard work and studies.
Helicopter gave them hope
Omaram Choudhary shared, “At first, we were all disappointed and thought we would miss the exam. But the helicopter gave us hope. We were able to reach the exam centre on time and write our final paper.” Magaram Choudhary added, “It was a thrilling and unforgettable experience. The helicopter journey was exciting, but more importantly, it helped us complete our B.Ed course on time.”
This bold move by the students has been praised by many on social media and in their local communities. Their dedication to education and quick thinking in a tough situation has become an example for others.
Students showed that strong will and smart decisions can overcome any challenge
Despite nature’s obstacles, the students showed that strong will and smart decisions can overcome any challenge. Their journey proves that when education is the goal, no roadblock is big enough — not even a landslide. They have crossed all the barriers to reach their destination.
