This 11-year-old girl swims 570 kilometer for a cleaner Ganga river

8 years ago

Image courtesy: Hindustan Times

11-year-old Kanpur girl Shraddha Shukla has undertaken a noble challenge to create awareness for a cleaner river Ganga.

Shraddha has vowed to swim 570 kilometers in the Ganga – from Kanpur to Varanasi, in a bid to raise awareness among people.

This wee swimmer has already started tough journey in the river from Sunday.

“She will cover a major stretch starting from Massacre Ghat in Kanpur to Varanasi in the swollen Ganga in 70 hours,” Shraddha’s father Lalit Shukla was quoted Times of India.

The girl will have to swim an average of 7 hours a day for 10 days so as to reach her destination within the stipulated 70 hours. The distance between the origin and destination is about 570 kilometer.

Shraddha who is also known as ‘Nanhi Jalpari’ (little mermaid), started swimming at the age of one. From such an early age, the girl took swimming lessons from her father Lalit.

She aims to set a new world record in aquatic sports by finishing swim on time.

“I am not nervous. I am excited and confident of completing the challenge. I am eyeing the national record,” she was quoted by Hindustan Times.

Central government has been continuing with its massive efforts to rejuvenate the river which is considered as sacred by Indian people. According to Union Minister Uma Bharti the results of this efforts will be visible by this October.