Ayodhya: Uttar Pradesh’s Bhagwandin Nishad is a saviour in the true sense. He is a resident of Guptar Ghat, Ayodhya, and has saved the lives of more than 345 people. During his childhood, his parents never let him bathe in the river water. He learned to swim without telling his parents and became a skilled swimmer. He shares that one day he saw a man drowning in the river; he immediately got into action, and with the help of a stick, he managed to get that man out of the river safely. 

Working since 2003

According to Bhagwandin Nishad, he has been doing the noble work of saving the lives of people since 2003. He has contacts in the police stations and is called at the scene whenever an accident occurs. He has also helped remove almost 1700 dead bodies from the river. 

Bhagwandin does not receive any monetary compensation for his work. He does his work willingly, and without even using a life jacket. He shares that he and his team remain dedicated to saving the lives of people drowning in water. 

Bhagwandin’s team of rescuers

Bhagwandin does the work with his team of 28 divers. Some of divers have received the status of ‘Uttar Pradesh Government Diver’ because of their constant dedication. Bhagwandin is one of them. He makes a daily living by selling tea and fried snacks at Guptar Ghat. His occupation allows him to keep an eye out on the ghats and be available at the time of any accident. 

The government of Uttar Pradesh had promised a monthly sum of Rs 500 to the divers who save lives, but the scheme has not been implemented yet. There are a few generous people, who thank Bhagwandin for saving their lives by offering him some money. 

Work during festivals

Bhagwandin shares that the work for divers increases as the festivals approach. More and more devotees visit the ghats for religious gatherings and prayers and therefore the danger of people drowning in waters increases. 

During festive season, when idol immersion takes place, 2 to 3 divers are always present at every ghat. Phone numbers of Bhagwandin and his team are registered with the police stations, and they are informed whenever a mishappening occurs.

Bhagwandin’s family

Bhagwandin’s father, Ramkumar Nishad, and mother, Rajkumari have passed away. His father also used to work as a diver. Bhagwandin has two younger brothers, Vikram and Sonu, and two sisters, Poonam and Neelam. His father passed away in 2016, after which his mother ran the household. In the year 2021, his mother died of a brain haemorrhage. A while back, his house was about to be demolished due to some property issues. After much struggle, and visiting the government offices multiple times, Bhagwandin was able to save the roof over his head. 

Facing challenges

When Bhagwandin’s mother was admitted in the hospital after the brain haemorrhage, he received a call from Cantt Police Station; he was informed about two boys drowning in the river. He left the hospital, and immediately rushed to the scene. Bhagwandin could save the life of one boy but the other had passed away. Two days later, he received the news of the demise of his mother.