NEW DELHI (TIP): National Bravery Award-winning boys and girls drew applause from the audience at the Republic Day parade here for saving human lives in dangerous situations.

As 23 out of the 25 award winners were driven in a jeep at the parade.

From a 16-year-old who fought off a tiger to a 13-year-old who lost his life while trying to save his friend from drowning, three girls and 22 boys showed incredible bravery in the face of dangerous situations.

Bharat Award, the highest of the National Bravery Awards, has been posthumously awarded to Gaurav Kawduji Sahastrabuddhe from Maharashtra who sacrificed his life during an attempt to save four of his friends.

Shivansh Singh, who lost his life while undertaking a valiant effort to save his friend from drowning in Sarayu river was also awarded posthumously.

The prestigious Geeta Chopra award has been given to eight-year-old Shivampet Ruchitha of Telangana who displayed exemplary valour in saving two lives when a train hit her school bus.

Sixteen-year-old Arjun Singh was honoured with Sanjay Chopra Award for displaying outstanding bravery in fighting off a tiger to save his mother. Ramdinthara (15) of Mizoram, who saved two persons from electrocution, was awarded Bapu Gaidhani Award, along with Rakeshbhai Shanabhai Patel (13) of Gujarat and Aromal SM (12) from Kerala.

While Rakeshbhai saved a boy who accidentally fell into a deep well, Aromal rescued two women from drowning.

Other recipients of the bravery awards are Kashish Dhanani (Gujarat), Maurice Yengkhom and Chongtham Kuber Meitei from Manipur, Angelica Tynsong (Meghalaya), Sai Krishna Akhil Kilambi (Telangana), Joena Chakbraborty and Sarwanand Saha (Chhattisgarh) and Dishant Mehndiratta (Haryana). Beedhovan, Nithin Philip Mathew, Abhijit KV, Anandu Dillep, Muhammad Shamnad (all from Kerala), Mohit Mahdenrda Dalvi, Nilesh Revaram Bhil, Vaibhav Ramesh Ghangare (all from Maharashtra), Abinash Mishra (Odisha) and Bhimsen from Uttar Pradesh were also given the award.