Severe floods and landslides in Uttarakhand turned travel into a nightmare for many but for four B.Ed. students from Rajasthan, the timing could not have been worse. Their final semester exam was scheduled in Munsiyari on September 3 and missing it would have meant losing a year’s effort. When blocked roads and reluctant taxi drivers left them stranded in Haldwani, they came up with an extraordinary idea — flying to the exam centre in a helicopter.
The students — Omaram Choudhary, Magaram Choudhary, Prakash Choudhary and Lucky Choudhary — are pursuing their B.Ed. degree through correspondence at Uttarakhand Open University. Their exam centre was RS Tolia PG College in Munsiyari, nearly 280 kilometres from Haldwani. What is usually a 10-hour drive was impossible this time, as landslides made the roads unusable.
In desperation, they reached out to Heritage Aviation which runs helicopter services in the region. After explaining their situation to the company’s CEO, arrangements were made for a special flight. Each student paid Rs 10,400 for the round trip and within just half an hour, they landed in Munsiyari, ready to take their exam. Two pilots operated the helicopter, ensuring the students reached safely.
Relieved after writing the paper, the group returned to Haldwani the same way. A cheerful selfie video from inside the helicopter, showing them waving with joy, quickly spread online and drew admiration and amusement in equal measure.
Here is the video:
Click to watch this video directly on Instagram
The students stated that they were disheartened and afraid of losing a year but because of the helicopter service, they were able to give their exam.
All the four students are primary school teachers, balancing jobs alongside their studies. For them, this helicopter ride was not just about reaching the exam hall, it symbolised resilience and determination.
Their unusual journey has since won applause on social media. Many praised their grit, while some joked that they could now proudly tell their students, “We once went to give exams by helicopter”.
This extraordinary effort by the young teachers serves as a reminder that with determination and quick thinking, even the toughest challenges can be overcome.
