Prayagraj cop who worshipped floodwaters at doorstep now braves ‘Ganga Maiyya’ with daring dive | Watch

Prayagraj is making headlines as Chandradeep Nishad, a local police officer, becomes a social media sensation for his dramatic encounters with the surging floodwaters of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.

Nishad, already known for a widely circulated video in which he performed a ritual offering milk and flowers to the floodwaters outside his home, has captured the public imagination once more, this time by diving straight into the flooded river from the window of his own house.

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A post shared by SI ChandraDeep Nishad (@si_chandradeep_nishad)

In a video posted on his Instagram account and swiftly picked up by media outlets, Nishad can be seen leaping into the water from the first-floor window as the floods engulf the lower levels of his residence. The floodwater, visibly reaching halfway up the main door, underscores the severity of the current situation in Prayagraj and several districts across Uttar Pradesh.

Sporting a composed demeanour, Nishad captioned his post: “Today in the lap of Mother Ganga, Jai Ganga Maiyya.” He added a crucial disclaimer urging viewers not to attempt similar stunts, reminding all that, “I am a former national swimmer.” Nishad’s blend of reverence, resilience and responsibility has drawn praise and reactions across social media, reflecting both the distress and spirit of residents facing the high waters.

This dramatic moment comes as incessant monsoon rainfall causes rivers across Uttar Pradesh to swell above the danger mark. According to data provided by the state relief commissioner’s office, the Ganga is running dangerously high in Varanasi, Mirzapur, Ghazipur and Ballia, while the Yamuna is well above safe levels in Prayagraj, Auraiya, Kalpi, Hamipur and Banda. The Betwa River, too, is overflowing in Hamirpur.

Latest reports sourced by News18 reveal that Prayagraj alone has seen floodwaters inundate more than 200 villages and submerge about 60 urban settlements. The ongoing situation remains critical, with 24 districts battered by heavy rainfall and dozens of localities displaced.

On Monday, district authorities recorded the Yamuna’s water level at 86.04 metres in Naini, while the Ganga stood at 86.03 metres in Phaphamau, both well above the official danger level of 84.73 metres.