HYDERABAD: Residents of Yamcha, a hamlet on banks of the Godavari in Telangana’s Nizamabad – around 200km from Hyderabad – have prevented over 300 potential suicides in the past three years.The village, home to 1,700-odd people, keeps a wary eye on the nearby Basara bridge for anyone attempting suicide by jumping into the river. The watch intensifies when monsoon arrives and the river is in spate, making it an infamous “suicide hotspot”. It helps that most of the villagers are natural swimmers adept at navigating the strong current.“Last year, we rescued a father and his two sons after they leapt into the waters from the bridge,” recalled Lingaiah. “On another occasion, a woman’s clothing got caught in an iron rod jutting out of the bridge, leaving her dangling. Some fisherfolk nearby heard her cries for help and rescued her.” Most of those rescued by the villagers blame debt and family disputes for their acts of desperation. “It is particularly distressing to see bodies floating in the river, as some choose to jump off the bridge at night when we are not keeping watch,” said Mahipal, who has rescued around 20 people to date.Fellow villager P Vinod recounted instances of people informing their families about their intention to die by suicide. “Invariably, family members contact police and details, including photos, are immediately shared on a WhatsApp group,” he said.This tie-up with Navipet police station has already helped save many lives. Once police receive a report, they alert the villagers and a search begins immediately.Locals say many of those who attempt suicide later express gratitude for being saved. In one instance, a woman from Maharashtra invited her rescuers from Yamcha to her wedding. An elderly person who was prevented from taking his life over a family dispute reconciled with his relatives. “He now lives happily with his family and recently invited those who saved him for lunch,” a villager added.