Nabarangpur, Jan, 17: Priyaranjan Rout, a sports teacher at Bagderi UG High School under Basani Panchayat of Nabarangpur district headquarters block, and originally from Balasore district, has been selected as a special invitee to the Republic Day Parade in Delhi. He has been invited by the Government of India in recognition of his remarkable contribution to social service, on the recommendation of the Odisha State Disaster Management Department.
In this regard, the Balasore district administration informed him officially on the 23rd.
Priyaranjan Rout is a resident of Talapada village in Balasore district. He was appointed as a sports teacher in Nabarangpur district in January 2026. Prior to this, he served as a volunteer “Aapda Mitra” with the Odisha State Disaster Authority (OSDA) during natural disasters such as cyclones and floods. He received formal training in disaster response in 2009.
In 2019, he worked as a resource person and provided training to many individuals. In 2023, he underwent further training conducted jointly by the Central and State Disaster Management Departments. On June 2, 2023, during the Bahanaga train accident, he reached the accident site promptly and played an active role in rescuing many victims.
For his exemplary service during the rescue operations, he was awarded a letter of appreciation by the then Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik.