In a heartwarming story of community courage, the residents of Yamcha village in Telangana’s Nizamabad district have helped save around 300 lives over the past several years by preventing suicide attempts on the Basara bridge over the Godavari river.
Located just a kilometre away from the bridge, the villagers maintain a constant vigil, springing into action whenever they spot someone exhibiting signs of distress. “They don’t ignore such signs. They intervene, counsel the person, and alert the police,” said an officer from the Navipet Police Station, acknowledging the villagers’ ongoing efforts.
The Godavari river, with its year-round water flow, has tragically become a popular spot for suicide attempts, drawing people from Nizamabad, Nirmal, and even parts of Maharashtra. Yet thanks to Yamcha’s residents, many lives have been pulled back from the brink. In several cases, expert swimmers—many from the village itself—are called in when someone jumps into the river.
Pravin, a former village sarpanch, has also taken up the responsibility of sharing voice alerts on messaging apps when a suicide attempt is reported. “Our community responds instantly. That’s what saves lives,” he said. However, he admitted that a few tragic cases go unnoticed despite their best efforts.
To further prevent such attempts, Pravin has urged authorities to install protective grills or mesh at key points along the bridge.
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