Woman swept away while bathing in Ganga survives 15 days in hut, rescued by boatmen

A woman who was swept away by strong currents while taking a dip in the Ganga survived for nearly two weeks in a hut surrounded by floodwaters before being rescued by boatmen in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia, police said.

Sunaina Devi, a resident of Bihar’s Buxar district, had gone to the river on August 31 after performing rituals. While taking a dip, she was caught in the strong current and swept away, Haldi police station SHO Rajiv Rai said.

Carried downstream, Sunaina eventually managed to swim to a hut located in a parval (pointed gourd) field near Chainchhapra village. The hut was surrounded by floodwaters, leaving her stranded with no way to reach the shore.

With no help arriving for days, Sunaina survived by drinking water from the Ganga. Police said she remained in the hut for around 10 to 15 days, waiting for someone to find her.

On Monday, she decided to leave the hut in search of help. However, she soon found herself struggling in the deep floodwaters and began drowning.

“I kept calling out ‘Shivguru-Shivguru’ and shouted for help,” Sunaina told police.

Her cries were heard by boatmen who were fishing nearby. They rushed towards her and, after considerable effort, pulled her to safety. She was subsequently taken to the Haldi police station, where her family was informed.

The rescue brought an emotional reunion for Sunaina and her family, who had spent days searching for her after she went missing. Her family had filed a missing person report at a police station in Buxar on September 1 after she disappeared following her visit to the river.

Kamlesh, Sunaina’s 21-year-old son, said the family had feared the worst after failing to find her.

“On August 31, she had gone to take a dip in the river, after which she went missing. A missing report was lodged at a police station in Buxar on September 1. When we met her at Haldi police station, she was visibly weak, but immediately recognised us,” he told PTI.

Kamlesh said his mother told the family that she had been swept away by the current but managed to swim to the hut. “For around 10-15 days, she survived by drinking the water of Ganga,” he said.

After bringing her back to Buxar, the family took her to a doctor, who said she was weak and prescribed medicines, Kamlesh said.

Circle Officer Bairia Alok Kumar Gupta confirmed that Sunaina told officials she had survived by drinking Ganga water until she was rescued.

“After she was found, her family in Buxar was informed, and she was handed over to her family members,” Gupta told PTI.

For the family, the return of Sunaina after nearly a fortnight has brought relief and renewed celebrations at home.