PATNA: He is blind since birth but has saved people from drowning and even retrieved bodies that have met watery graves. Meet Bhullu Sahni, 35, a native of Dumduma village under Patori block in Samastipur district, who has earned the sobriquet of a “Jal Yodha” (water warrior) due to his humanitarian gestures despite insurmountable odds in his life.
Bhullu claims that he is gifted with rare skills to compensate for his blindness.Showing bravery and rare humanitarian gestures, he has saved 13 people from drowning and retrieved around 14 bodies from water bodies in the past five years, putting his own life at risk in the district criss-crossed by the Ganga, Budhi Gandak, Bagmati, and Kamla rivers.
He said his father, Kailu Sahni, introduced him to swimming and fishing at an early age. In due course, he mastered the art of swimming, turning his affinity for water bodies into life-saving skills.
Bhullu, who comes from the “Mallah” (fisherman) community, grew up around water bodies and remains in high demand across the district. His unique swimming technique and fearless approach have made him the trusted saviour in times of crisis.
“What if I can’t see? I am gifted with rare cognitive skills which I leverage to save people in distress,” Bhullu said on Tuesday. Elaborating on his exceptional skills, he said: “I am blind, but as soon as I enter a water body, a special sense to navigate and identify the missing person triggers inside me. Something shining appears under the water, and I rush to rescue it.”
Bhullu, who survives by selling local produce to villagers, said he receives “handsome” money when he saves any villager or recovers bodies from water bodies. “People reward me with around Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 for a rescue work. I am happy with that as this helps me to meet my ends,” he said.
Mukhiya of Chaksaho panchayat, Jago Devi, under which Bhullu’s Dumduma village falls, said whenever there is news of a person drowning in Samastipur, the local people rush straight to Bhullu for help, and he never disappoints them.
“We have reported the rare skills of Bhullu and his benevolent acts to the district administration officials and sought help for him. However, nothing has come so far from them,” Devi said.
