Kendrapara: Fourteen-year-old Pravati never thought that her visit to her uncle's village would save several people from the claws of death.

Whiling away her time on the Mahanadi river bank near Mushadiha ghat, the girl acted on the spur of the moment as she watched a motorised boat capsize before her very eyes yesterday (Mar 1, 2004).

But for the act of valour and exemplary courage shown by Pravati, several persons would have definitely met their watery grave, superintendent of police Jagatsinghpur Suresh Kumar Palsania said.

Pravati was waiting for her uncle Ulasha Behera to arrive for fishing operation, when the boat went down.

The illiterate girl raised a hue and cry as the passengers shouted for help. But as no one could hear her cries she donned the mantle of saviour herself and sailed out in a boat anchored nearby.

Palsania, quoting her uncle, said the girl knew the technique of piloting a boat and she managed to rescue at least three persons before his uncle and other fishermen arrived on the scene and pulled out another six persons from the swirling water.

Pravati's act of bravery has won her much appreciation in the area.