Prayagraj: Floods displace many, but policeman welcomes Ganga with rituals at his doorstep
In the video, sub-inspector Chandradeep Nishad, a resident of Mori locality in Daraganj area of the city, is seen dressed in his uniform and pouring milk and offering rose petals while chanting 'Jai Ganga Maiya main dhann ho gaya ki aap mere darbar pe aashirwad dene aaye' (Hail Mother Ganga, I feel blessed that you arrived at my home to bless me.) He is seen barefoot while performing the rituals.
The sub-inspector can be further heard thanking the river for gracing his house after having blessed over 66 crore devotees during the 45-day Mahakumbh 2025, which was held earlier this year on the banks of the Sangam in Prayagraj.
After the rituals, another video shows the sub-inspector diving into the floodwaters from the balcony of the first floor of his two-storey house, expressing his joy.
The sub-inspector belongs to the Other Backward Classes Nishad community, comprising fishermen.
The policeman is currently posted as the personal security officer of a judge, as mentioned on his social media platform.
His videos have sparked mixed reactions online with some calling it an act of reverence and others criticising it as a publicity stunt amid a natural calamity.
Pappu Lal Nishad, president of Prayagraj Navik Sangh (an organisation of boatmen, said, 'Every member of the Nishad community has a special connection with Maa Ganga as the river not only sustains our livelihood but also protects us from all dangers. There is nothing wrong in what sub-inspector Chandradeep Nishad did. It is an act of showing reverence.'
'The same reverence is visible at the Bade Hanuman temple (in Prayagraj). When Ganga water enters the temple premises every year, it is not a flood for devotees, but instead considered as Maa Gange having come to bathe Lord Hanuman,' he added. A senior police official on condition of anonymity said the sub-inspector had worshipped the 'holy Ganga' which was not a crime.
'He did not do anything that would put a scar on the uniform. It was just plain puja. Belonging to the Nishad community, the connection with the river is not something unusual,' he added.
A plaque the sub-inspector's home reads 'Nishad Raj Bhavan, Mori, Daraganj, Prayagraj.' A nameplate mentions his official designation as 'Sub-Inspector Chandradeep Nishad, Uttar Pradesh Police.'
His instagram account describes him as a national swimmer, UP Police Swimming Champion. A Lucknow University graduate, he has an account on several other social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook and X.
Prayagraj has received heavy rain and witnessed a rise in water level of both the Ganga and the Yamuna from July 28 onwards.
The Sangam city was close to surpassing its worst floods of 1978 on Monday.
Floodwaters have already displaced around 8000 residents of 61 Nagar Nigam wards in Prayagraj, according to district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma.
The water level of the Ganga in Prayagraj's Phaphamau was recorded at 86.07 metres at 12 noon on Monday, according to the irrigation department.
The Yamuna river was flowing at 86.08 metres in Naini, according to the irrigation department. The danger mark is at 84.73 metres for both the rivers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Bodies found in car in Noida: Autopsy fails to reveal cause of death
The post-mortem examination of two men found dead inside a parked car in Noida's Sector 62 on Monday afternoon has not confirmed a cause of death, with the autopsy report listing it as 'pending' as of Wednesday, police said. They are suspected to have consumed alcohol and may have been resting in the car when they died, said an officer involved in the investigation. (HT Photos) The deceased were identified as Sachin Sharma, 27, a cab driver, and Laxmi Shankar, 50, both residents of Khora Colony in Ghaziabad. Their bodies were discovered inside Sharma's locked Hyundai Aura CNG car near a liquor store around 12.30pm, following repeated calls from Sharma's wife, who had reportedly tried contacting him more than 80 times since Sunday night. 'No external injuries were found on either body. The viscera and blood samples have been sent for toxicology analysis,' said Amit Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of the Sector 58 police station. He added that the exact cause of death will be confirmed once the toxicology results are received, which could take up to two months. A police officer involved in the investigation, who requested anonymity, said the men had left home with ₹3,000 and were last seen at a nearby liquor store. 'They are suspected to have consumed alcohol and may have been resting in the car when they died,' the officer said. Both keys to the vehicle were reportedly found in the ignition, and the engine was in the 'on' position when the bodies were found. Both the petrol tank and the CNG cylinder were found to be reading empty; officers suspect that the car may have run out of fuel, potentially leading to asphyxiation if toxic fumes accumulated inside.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Gang providing bank accounts and SIM cards to cyber frauds busted in Greater Noida
Greater Noida Five members of a gang that allegedly provided bank accounts, debit cards, and pre-activated SIM cards to cybercriminals involved in digital arrest and stock trading frauds, were arrested on Wednesday, police said. Officers said that the suspects had data related to around 40 bank accounts and mobile numbers registered with those accounts, and access to the registered numbers was also provided to cybercriminals through an application. (HT Photos) Police identified them as Chanpreet Singh, 25, and Ranvir Singh, 22, both residents of Bhopal; Jagmohan Dhakad, 19, and Naveen Raikwar, 19, from Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh; and Aditya Sharma, 21, hailing from Delhi but living in Surajpur, Greater Noida. 'We received a tip-off that a gang involved in collecting bank account credentials from account holders and providing them to cybercriminals was active in Greater Noida,' said deputy commissioner of police (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy. 'With the help of manual intelligence, the suspects were arrested from Surajpur area of Greater Noida,' the officer added. 'Five mobile phones, eight SIM cards, seven debit cards, and other documents were recovered from their possession,' the DCP added. An investigation revealed that the suspects had links with cybercriminals and were providing bank account details to dupe people with fraudulent schemes such as digital arrest. 'They used to acquire the accounts at 1% commission from the account holders and then transfer the credentials to cybercriminals for ₹ 15,000 each,' DCP Avasthy said, adding that all MP residents resided at Aditya's residence and had been operating for two months. Officers said that the suspects had data related to around 40 bank accounts and mobile numbers registered with those accounts, and access to the registered numbers was also provided to cybercriminals through an application. A case under sections of cheating, forgery, and criminal intimidation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the IT Act was registered at Surajpur police station. Investigation is going on to trace transactions made from the compromised bank accounts, police said.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Singer's aide lured via phone call from UK: Gurugram police
Rohit Shokeen, a close aide and alleged financier of Haryanvi singer Rahul Yadav, alias Fazilpuria, was lured to his death in Gurugram's Sector 77 late Monday night through a WhatsApp call from a UK-based number, police said on Wednesday. The car the victim was commuting in. (HT Photo) Shokeen, 40, a resident of Kamaruddin Nagar in Delhi, was allegedly called to the location to resolve a financial dispute involving ₹60 lakh that he had lent to Deepak Nandal, police said. While he was waiting outside his car near Palm Hills society, two assailants in delivery executive uniforms shot him dead. Police said more than 15 bullets were pumped into his head, chest, neck, and abdomen, even after he collapsed, indicating a deliberate attempt to instil fear among his associates, including Fazilpuria. 'The caller was also suspected to be Nandal, a close associate of gangster Sunil Sardhaniya,' a senior police officer said, adding both the gangsters hail from Rohtak and are believed to be hiding abroad. A social media post in Sardhaniya's name has since claimed responsibility for the killing and issued threats to Fazilpuria if he fails to return owed money. 'Prima facie, the call originated from a UK number. It is being verified whether it was a virtual number,' said a senior police officer. Shokeen had three criminal cases against him in Delhi, including land grabbing and assault. As of now, police believe the number used to call Shokeen genuinely belonged to Nandal. However, they are still verifying whether it was spoofed or generated through a virtual platform to mask the caller's true identity. Police said Shokeen and Nandal's relationship soured after the latter failed to return the ₹60 lakh borrowed a few years ago. Shokeen's father had submitted a complaint last year alleging life threats from Nandal. Investigators believe the motive was twofold — to avoid repayment and to intimidate Fazilpuria. Shokeen had helped the singer secure a ₹5 crore loan from Sardhaniya through Nandal, which the gang now reportedly wants repaid. On July 14, gunmen hired by Sardhaniya had opened fire on Fazilpuria in Sector 71, from which he survived. Sardhaniya claimed responsibility online. ACP (Manesar) Virender Saini said multiple teams are raiding locations, including outside Haryana. 'The murder site was dark and lacked CCTV coverage. We are scanning other footage for clues,' he said. Despite multiple attempts from HT, Rahul Yadav remains completely unreachable for a statement. He has yet to issue any public statement regarding the recent developments. The singer has been under police protection since July 14, when he survived an attack—security that was deployed within hours of the incident.
