24 Jul. 24: A routine patrol took a dramatic turn for head constable Aashiq Ali of Uttarakhand’s State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) when he rescued 21-year-old Monu Singh from drowning in the river Ganga during the ongoing kanwar yatra.
Singh, who was attempting to swim across the river, began to struggle halfway through the 100-meter-wide stretch. “He was trying to swing across the river from the other side, but after crossing around 60 meters of the 100-meter-wide stretch, he started drowning in the fast-flowing stream. I jumped and swam around 40 meters to save him,” recounted Ali, whose heroic act was captured on video by a colleague.
Ali and his team executed several rescues that day, saving about 40-50 kanwariyas annually. Despite having only six jawans to cover a 500-meter stretch, they remain vigilant and ready to act. “We have received special training for this, with regular courses. The experience we have gained over the years also helps… I have saved over 100 kanwariyas from drowning since my deployment,” Ali stated.
Ali, who joined the Uttarakhand Police in 2012 and the SDRF in 2014, has been stationed at this ghat every kanwar yatra since 2021. His dedication and bravery were further demonstrated when he, along with constable Shivam Singh, rescued another 21-year-old, Sandeep Yadav from Gorakhpur, who had also almost drowned.
Yadav expressed his gratitude, saying, “I have been going on the yatra for the last five years, but this happened for the first time. Before I jumped into the river, police and SDRF personnel tried to stop me but I couldn’t hear them. I had almost crossed the stream when the depth suddenly increased and I could not swim anymore. I waved my hands, pleading for someone to save me, and saw two people swimming towards me. They saved me. I feel like I have gone through a rebirth. I can never thank them enough. The Muslim head constable who saved me – he is my brother from this day.”
Throughout the day, Ali and the SDRF team also saved several others, including 21-year-old Govind Singh from Rudrapur Kheda, Uttarakhand; 17-year-old Karan from Sadar Tikona Park, Delhi; Ankit, a 15-year-old from Panipat, Haryana; and Arun Rathore, a 32-year-old from Jalalpur, Muzaffarnagar.
In a statement, to the Indian Express, the SDRF praised Ali’s actions: “During the kanwar yatra at Kangra Ghat, 21-year-old Monu Singh was swept away by the strong current while taking a bath, putting him in a perilous situation. Head constable Aashiq Ali, displaying unparalleled courage, immediately jumped into the river. Braving the fast-flowing water, Ali managed to bring Monu Singh safely to shore, disregarding his own safety. This selfless and courageous act by Ali has given a new life to a Shiv Bhakt.”
Ali’s heroism and dedication serve as a testament to the commitment of the SDRF team in ensuring the safety of the kanwariyas during the yatra.
