Home guard Eshwaraiah Manthri rescued 23 lives at Saroornagar lake while serving from 2020 to 2023
Hyderabad: “I cannot see a life being lost before my eyes,” says home guard Eshwaraiah Manthri, who was selected for the President’s Meritorious Service Medal on Republic Day for rescuing 23 people who attempted to die by suicide at the Saroornagar lake in three years.
Posted as incharge of the police outpost at the lake from 2020 to 2023, the 49-year-old often risked his life to save others.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Eshwaraiah said as a human being everyone should in some way or the other try to save the lives of people.
Eshwaraiah, born in Pendyala in Maheshwaram mandal, learnt swimming in a well at the age of seven, when he used to take their goats for grazing. “I used to dive into the wells in our village and all the villagers used to call me ‘gaja ethagadu (a diver)’,” he recalled.
According to his childhood friend P. Yadaiah, Eshwaraiah had no fear of water. “He used to dive deep into the water by holding his breath for a long time,” Yadaiah said.
On his very first day at work, Eshwariah rescued a man from the lake’s waters. This was appreciated by Saroornagar station house officer Sitaram. The man returned the next day and attempted to die by suicide but Eshwaraiah was at hand to recue him again.
“Later, the man married his girlfriend and came to meet me and said, ‘Eashwar Anna.. I am alive because of you’. I was moved,” the home guard said.
Recounting the challenges, Eshwaraiah said it was more difficult to rescue obese persons. “Some people stiffen their necks in fear and pull themselves into the water, resisting the rescue," he said.
Eshwaraiah said liquor bottles thrown into the lake break into pieces and cause injuries. “There are also cases where they get stuck and panic,” he said, adding, “My family members encouraged me not to hesitate when it comes to doing good deeds.”
