Delhi auto driver saves woman, baby from drowning, loses own life

30-year-old auto driver Pawan was heading home after dropping off a passenger when he saw a woman with a baby in her arms standing on the edge of a bridge on the Meethapur canal. In a moment, he saw the woman jumping off the bridge, police said Wednesday.

Little did auto-rickshaw driver Pawan Shah know that jumping into a canal in Delhi to save lives of a woman and her baby would turn fatal for him.

, 30-year-old Pawan was heading home after dropping off a passenger when he saw a woman with a baby in her arms standing on the edge of a bridge on the Meethapur canal (Twitter/ Representative Image)

Last Saturday, 30-year-old Pawan was heading home after dropping off a passenger when he saw a woman with a baby in her arms standing on the edge of a bridge on the Meethapur canal. In a moment, he saw the woman jumping off the bridge, police said Wednesday.

Without a second thought, Pawan left his auto and jumped into the water to save the woman and the baby. He also shouted and asked for help.

Three men who were passing by saw Pawan and the woman and formed a human chain. They saved the mother-son duo from drowning but when they went for rescuing Pawan, it was too late as a strong current had taken him away, Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) said.

The three men -- Rajveer, Jamil and Sanjeev -- informed Jaitpur police station about the incident and police soon rushed to the spot and started a search for Pawan. However, even after four days, the search is underway as his body could not be found, the senior officer said.

During enquiry, police found that the woman tried to commit suicide along with her baby after a fight with her husband.

The police official said Pawan’s name will be recommended for the ‘Jiwan Raksha’ bravery award.