Telangana village on ‘suicide watch’ saves 300 lives in 3 years; residents patrol Godavari bridge, leap into action when needed

HYDERABAD: Residents of Yamcha village on the banks of the Godavari always keep one eye on the Basara bridge nearby. When Monsoon arrives and the river is in spate, the bridge becomes a spot from where desperate men and women try to end their lives by jumping into the river.

But these villagers, many of them excellent swimmers, are determined not to let the bridge become a suicide hotspot.Located 200 km from Hyderabad in Nizamabad district, the villagers have saved about 300 lives over the past three years. The village, home to 1,700 people, mostly fishermen and farmers, is positioned about 500 metres from the bridge. And someone or the other is either passing by the bridge or is working nearby.

The moment they see a jumper, they rush in and drag the person to shore.The villagers have even tied up with the local police. Whenever the Navipet police station receives a missing persons report, villagers are alerted on a WhatsApp group, suspecting a potential suicide attempt. They begin a search. If someone is located, he or she is rescued and handed over to the police for counselling.Locals say victims always express gratitude for being offered a second chance at life.

In one such incident, a woman from Maharashtra who, after being rescued, extended invitations to her wedding to the villagers. Similarly, an elderly person who was saved following a family dispute, later reconciled with his relatives. He now lives contentedly with his family and has invited his rescuers for a festive lunch. Last year, we successfully rescued a man and his two sons after they leapt from the bridge," said U Lingaiah, a fisherman from Yamcha.

He also recalled an incident where a woman's suicide bid was thwarted when her clothing was caught in an iron rod of the bridge during her jump. Her cries for help were heard by nearby fishermen who rescued her.Most people rescued here are either deep in debt or have unresolved family disputes. "It is particularly distressing to see bodies floating in the river, as some of them choose to jump off the bridge at night when we are not keeping a watch," said Mahipal, a villager who rescued around 20 people.Another villager, P Vinod, says some people tell their families that they are going to kill themselves. "On receiving such information, family members contact the police and the officials then share the person's photo and other details in the WhatsApp group. The nearby villagers swiftly respond to prevent any potential suicide bid," he adds.