Uttarakhand SDRF jawan battles strong Ganga currents to save drowning devotee

An Uttarakhand Police SDRF jawan dived into the Ganga at Haridwar's Kangra Ghat and rescued a devotee who was nearly drowning in the strong current. The video prompted praise for the team's quick response while also raising safety concerns at the ghat.Uttarakhand SDRF jawan battles strong Ganga currents to save drowning devotee (Photos: @uttarakhandcops/X)A split-second decision by an Uttarakhand Police SDRF jawan saved a devotee from being swept away by the powerful currents of the Ganga, with the dramatic rescue caught on camera.The Uttarakhand Police shared the video of the rescue on its official X account, showing an SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) personnel springing into action after spotting a man struggling to stay afloat in the river at Kangra Ghat in Haridwar.In the video, the SDRF jawan was seen immediately diving into the fast-flowing Ganga without hesitation before swimming rapidly towards the drowning man, who appeared to be fighting against the strong current.Battling the force of the river, the rescuer reached him, grabbed hold of him securely and began swimming back towards the shore while keeping the man firmly in his grasp. As the two neared land, other SDRF personnel rushed forward, ready to pull both men safely out of the water.Sharing the clip, Uttarakhand Police said that the rescued man was a Shiva devotee from Noida in Uttar Pradesh who had begun drifting away in the swift current while taking a holy dip at Kangra Ghat. The SDRF jawan noticed this and immediately jumped into the river and, after strenuous efforts, managed to rescue him safely.Watch the video here:The video garnered widespread praise online, with many social media users applauding the jawan's courage and presence of mind.Several described the rescue as a remarkable display of bravery, saying the personnel had put his own life at risk to save someone else's.Others appreciated the quick response of the entire SDRF team, pointing out that their preparedness prevented the situation from turning tragic.Some users, however, also pointed to the absence of visible barricades or additional safety measures near the ghat, suggesting that better precautions could help prevent similar incidents in the future.- EndsPublished By: Yashna TalwarPublished On: Jul 31, 2026 12:01 IST