From tourism to disaster relief, without pay

NASHIK: Dyneshwar Bendkule, a 22-year-old youth who was washing himself in the water that had entered up to the back of his house in the flood-affected Chandori, fell off balance into the floods and was pulled into the flowing stream. Boatmen Tukaram Bhoye and his associate Tanaji Waghade, who were ferrying help to the stranded people in the village, displayed rare courage to save him.

Tukaram and Tanaji were ferrying supplies when they heard people shouting and were told about the boy being washed away. “There was no time to think, I turned my boat and headed into the midst of the stream. It was difficult as I had to speed up to reach the boy who was drifting about 150 feet ahead,” said Tukaram.

The duo along with their other two team members, are ferrying men, material and aid from the road to the flood affected village of Chandori. On Monday, they made about 20 trips and rescued over 200 people. On Tuesday and Wednesday their main job was to ferry food, supplies, tea and medicines to the stranded people. Ferrying visiting authorities was also their job. Interestingly, they are doing all this, risking their lives, for free. “We are doing a service to humanity. So far we have not got any money for this work,” says Tukaram whose boats and team have been summoned by the administration from Someshwar.