Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presenting the Anna Medal of Gallantry during the 77th Republic Day celebrations near Labour Statue in Chennai on January 26, 2026. A. Jessie received the award given to her late husband Peter Johnson.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu
Tamil Nadu government’s Anna Medal for Gallantry 2026 was posthumously awarded to Peter Johnson who died while saving two youngsters from drowning in Thamirabharani river last year, on the occasion of the Republic Day celebrations in Chennai on Monday (January 26, 2026).
Earlier on June 1 in 2025, Johnson was near the check dam across Thamirabharani river in Kuzhithurai in Kanniyakumari district when he noticed two youngsters Mano (17) and Akhilesh (12) slipping into the river.
Johnson jumped into the river and rescued both the youngsters by making them get into the bank safely. “But, Thiru. (Late) Peter Johnson was caught by the heavy river stream and succumbed to death,” the citation read. His wife A. Jessie received the medal from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Rescue from flash floods
Three men belonging to the Fire and Rescue Services department — fireman driver V. Sankar, fireman S. Rameshkumar and fireman P. Suresh — who rescued three persons whose vehicle was caught in a flash floods in Dharmagiri, also received the Anna Medal for Gallantry.
On May 25 last year, three persons in a car were proceeding to Dharmagiri via Periasolai. A flash flood on Pandyar river struck the road and the three persons were trapped in the flood. The three climbed on to the car’s roof and were fighting for their lives. Mr. Sankar, Mr. Rameshkumar and Mr. Suresh bravely jumped into the river and saved the three, the citation read.
The Anna Medal for Gallantry carries a cheque for ₹1 lakh, a medal worth ₹9,000 and a certificate.
Published – January 26, 2026 04:41 pm IST
