PRAYAGRAJ, Aug. 5 -- At a time when thousands of people have been displaced by floods in Prayagraj, a sub-inspector of the Uttar Pradesh Police surprisingly performed a ritualistic welcome to "Maa Ganga" (Mother Ganga) as the floodwaters reach the doorstep of his home here. In a video, sub-inspector Chandradeep Nishad, a resident of Mori locality in Daraganj area of the city, is seen dressed in his uniform and pouring milk and offering rose petals while chanting "Jai Ganga Maiya main dhann ho gaya ki aap mere darbar pe aashirwad dene aaye" (Hail Mother Ganga, I feel blessed that you arrived at my home to bless me.) He is barefoot while performing the rituals. The S-I can be further heard thanking the river for gracing his house after having blessed over 66 crore devotees during the 45-day Mahakumbh 2025, which was held earlier this year on the banks of the Sangam in Prayagraj. After the rituals, another video shows the S-I diving into the floodwaters from the balcony of the first floor of his two-storey house, expressing his joy. He belongs to the OBC Nishad community.The policeman is currently posted as the PSO of a judge, as mentioned on his social media platform. His videos have sparked mixed reactions online with some calling it an act of reverence and others criticising it as a publicity stunt. Pappu Lal Nishad, president of Prayagraj Navik Sangh (an organisation of boatmen), said, "Every member of the Nishad community has a special connection with Maa Ganga as the river not only sustains our livelihood but also protects us from all dangers. There is nothing wrong in what sub-inspector Chandradeep Nishad did. It is an act of showing reverence." A senior police official said the sub-inspector had worshipped the "holy Ganga" which was not a crime. "He did not do anything that would put a scar on the uniform. It was just plain puja. Belonging to the Nishad community, the connection with the river is not something unusual," he added. The nameplates at the S-I's home read "Nishad Raj Bhavan, Mori, Daraganj, Prayagraj," along with his official designation as "Sub-Inspector Chandradeep Nishad, Uttar Pradesh Police." His Instagram account describes him as a national swimmer, UP Police Swimming Champion. He is a Lucknow University graduate. Prayagraj has received heavy rain and witnessed a rise in water level of both the Ganga and the Yamuna from July 28 onwards. The Sangam city was close to surpassing its worst floods of 1978 on Monday and thousands have been displaced....