Patna Medical College and Hospital felicitated six nurses and a matron with Gaurav Samman on Independence Day for their selfless service in saving the lives of the Gandaman Primary School students. Shuchismita Chakraborty speaks to the saviours who relentlessly served the midday meal victims

What Dr Nigam Prakash Narayan, a member of the selection committee, said about the nurses:

Vithika Vishwas, nurse

Reaction: It feels great. My seniors and the hospital administration are happy with my work during the crisis. I am pleased but more than the honour I am happy, as we were able to save so many lives

Flashback: When the children were brought in, we administered atropine injection within 10-15 minutes. After three days, their condition improved. On the fourth day, the children’s condition started deteriorating. We felt helpless at that time

I saw leadership qualities in her during the crisis. She was directing other nurses how to get things done on time. She has good management skills

Pushpa Rani, nurse

Reaction: I am very happy. The award reminds me of the hard work put in during treatment of the children

Flashback: I will never forget the day the children were discharged from PMCH. Two of the 22 kids came running to me and said: “Didi, aap bhi chaliye hamare sath (Didi, you also come along with us).” They had become emotionally attached to me

She was very sympathetic towards the children and their guardians. She used to get a lot of queries from parents but she never lost patience with them

K Vishalakshi, nurse

Reaction: I am happy. I was delighted to see the smiles on their faces when they were returning home

Flashback: It was heart wrenching to see a person whose two grandchildren had died before reaching PMCH, while one died during treatment. His cries moved all nurses to tears

She worked silently all through without getting agitated

Salinamma Joseph, nurse

Reaction: I am happy for all nurses who have got the award

Flashback: Around 40 nurses used to work in the ward where the children were admitted. Sometimes, many of us fell sick but that hardly dampened the spirit of the rest. We even worked two shifts without a break

She was very good at following instructions

Punam B, nurse

Reaction: I am very happy. This is first time in the history of the hospital that nurses have been given awards

Flashback: I saw two phases. In the first, the kids were battling for life. In the other, they were smiling and playing on their beds

She worked tirelessly all through. Came up to the hospital at one call

Kumari Sanju Sinha, nurse

Reaction: I am on top of the world

Flashback: I almost cried when a 15-year-old girl said that if his brother had been treated here, he could have been saved.

She was very well behaved

Meena Kumari, matron

Reaction: I am happy for the nurses. They showed good teamwork

Flashback: The day the kids were brought to the hospital, the parents said: “Hamare bachche ko bacha lijiye (please save our children)”. It was sad to see so many parents crying together

She worked beyond her duties. She took on many added responsibilities