Maryland’s top officials, Governor Wes Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, presented a Governor’s Citation to 12-year-old Aasish Selvaraj of Montgomery County, recognizing his extraordinary bravery during a flash flood rescue last month in Bethesda.
The formal recognition comes after Aasish’s heroic actions saved himself and five others, including a toddler, from life-threatening conditions. Lt. Governor Aruna Miller shared Aasish’s story, calling him a “real-life hero.” In a moment of crisis on Thursday, July 31, Aasish, his family, and others were in an SUV that was swept off the road by raging floodwaters at the intersection of Bradley Boulevard and Mercy Hollow Lane in Bethesda.
The situation escalated when Montgomery County Police alerted responding Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) units to a second vehicle that was now fully submerged. In a truly heart-stopping moment, first responders spotted Aasish standing on the roof of the second car. Displaying incredible courage and quick thinking, Aasish had managed to climb out of a window with a 2-year-old child in his arms. He held on to a tree branch, clinging to it for dear life through 200 feet of “raging water” until rescue teams could reach them.
The rapid and coordinated efforts of the MCFRS Swift Water Rescue teams proved successful, with all six people, including Aasish and the 2-year-old, being safely pulled from the treacherous conditions. Just a few days later, Aasish was reunited with the rescue team, where one firefighter’s words perfectly captured the sentiment of the moment: “He’s a hero.”
In a heartfelt gesture of gratitude, Aasish’s father, Jayaraman, made a $10,000 donation to MCFRS earlier this month, calling it a “small gesture” to express his family’s thanks for the heroic and life-saving rescue efforts.
