Divers for coins in the most poisonous river in the world (8 photos)

How do poor Indians live who have chosen as their job the search for coins at the bottom of the most poisoned river in India - the Yamuna.





The Yamuna is a sacred river, and at the same time this does not prevent EVERY factory along the river from discharging their waste into it, including chemical plants.



This is what discharges into the river from any plant look like

That’s why the river long ago changed its color to dirty gray from blue, and foam the size of a man regularly whips up on the banks. Next to which believers wash themselves and then joyfully take pictures.



Sometimes the river brings other gifts - decorations and figurines for the flea market

Diver caste

And this river has its own small caste of divers. These are untouchables who simply do not see any other option for earning money.



I hurt my finger on the bottle at the bottom, infection is inevitable

Men on boats float under the bridge and wait for one of the believers to climb onto it. According to tradition, he must “give gifts to the river.” These are things, treats and coins. It is the coins that they need; it is not safe to eat food from such a river, thank the gods, even these divers understand this.

Divers swim on the river in boats, and rush into the water in a race when they see a profit. So there is also competition among the guys.

Harmful production



He also smokes!

Every diver suffers from irritation in the eyes, as well as constant fatigue from mild poisoning from toxic substances. They rest a lot and may skip a day if the previous day had a good catch.

This is such a small “sick leave”, and at the same time it is the most convenient form of work for lazy people. You can simply not go to work and it will not get away from you.



And these are rich divers. They have a nice strong boat and JEANS

How much does the river bring to its victims?

A successful dive usually costs thirty rupees if you are the first to catch your competitors. You can dive from 100 to 300 rupees per day. Enough to live.

“Yamuna is our goddess because she feeds us,” say the divers. Although they obviously feed at the expense of other believers - who throw these coins.



I have already written about the incredible toxic foam on the Yamuna River

Sometimes they take out old coins that were thrown there thirty or forty years ago. They can be sold online, and some who know who to sell the coins to make good money from.

But usually they are taken at a price slightly higher than usual by collectors “grazing” around divers’ villages. They cannot independently find a buyer and adequately evaluate the coin.



It’s dark and scary to plunge into this slurry.

There are no women among the divers. This is too dangerous for women’s health, and they won’t allow female competitors into their midst.