Khare’s Lifelong Mission: Retrieving Bodies From Lakes & Saving Lives

Nagpur: For over three decades, Jagdish Khare, known as Nagpur's ‘Lake Rescuer' or ‘Body Recoverer', has worked at the edge of despair, saving those on the brink and recovering bodies when it is too late. Speaking at ‘Samvad', an event hosted by Vidarbha Hindi Sahitya Sangha on Sunday, Khare recounted the journey that has defined his life since 1994.A self-taught diver with no formal education, Khare said his work began after a personal tragedy. "A close friend died by suicide. We retrieved his body ourselves. That moment changed everything," he said. Since then, Khare has recovered over 4,000 bodies from water bodies and other locations, while also saving more than 1,800 people who were attempting suicide. Khare has won several accolades, including TOI's Nagpur Heroes Award and entry into Limca Book of Records.While Khare retrieves bodies, his wife Jayshree assists with women victims and counsels those on verge of taking the extreme step. "I grew up watching my father work in autopsy department. And now, after years of retrieving bodies, nothing terrifies me anymore," he said.Khare, who works as a sanitation employee, described harsh realities behind the service. From social stigma in securing housing facility to minimal or no payment for retrieving unclaimed bodies, challenges persist. "I do as social service, not for the sake of money," he said, adding that police often support him by providing fuel for his ambulance. At times, the victims are found wearing ornaments but the couple doesn't touch them. "People call us mad. But I tell them once a person has lost life what value do these ornaments hold?" Jayshree said.Sharing an incident, Khare said, "Once, a suicide note clearly mentioned that if Jagdish Khare retrieves the body, it should be handed over to the deceased's father." With no expectation of reward, Khare says he remains committed to his social service.