Teenager cycles 1,200 kilometres to get injured father home during pandemic

Teenager cycles 1,200 kilometres to get injured father home during pandemic

An Indian teenager has cycled 1,200 kilometres to get her injured father back home during the coronavirus lockdown.

Mohan Paswan worked as a rickshaw driver in Gurgaon in northern India but had an accident and was badly injured in the leg.

Fifteen-year-old Jyoti Kumari went to visit him in March but the pair became stranded by the coronavirus lockdown.

Many others left for their family homes on foot but Mohan's injury meant they were trapped.

To make matters worse, their paltry savings were running out meaning they could not pay their rent and faced eviction.

Jyoti decided to borrow money and bought a second-hand bike to ride her and her father to their home in Darbhanga in eastern India.

The fearless teenager cycled 40 to 50 km a day stopping at places where generous people offered food and water.

Occasionally, a truck driver would take pity on them and give them a ride.

Jyoti pedalled for eight days and reached home on May 20th.

Her feat made headlines and some help has been offered to the family.

Local government officials have agreed to help her continue her studies and the Indian Cycling Federation has offered to train her.

Jyoti has even impressed Ivanka Trump, the daughter of US President Donald Trump.

"The beautiful feat of endurance and love has captured the imagination of the Indian people and the cycling federation," she Tweeted.