BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A group of migrant workers were awarded the title of "righteous people of 2012," according to a selection result released on Sunday.

In a massive downpour that battered Beijing on July 21 last year, about 150 migrant workers used life buoys and hemp ropes to conduct emergent rescues for endangered people who were stranded in a flooded highway in the northwest city.

The torrential rain left at least 79 people dead and caused significant damage.

Late bus driver Wu bin, who sacrificed his own life to save 24 of his passengers and middle school teacher Zhang Lili, who lost her legs in the act of saving two students from an onrushing bus, also received the honor.

The selection of "righteous people" started in 2009, and was organized by news medias including Procuratorial Daily, which is under the operation of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.