Divers Rajendra Sahni and Keshav Sahni register their complaints with district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh on Thursday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Dec. 1: Rajendra Sahni (45) and Keshav Sahni (50) have saved lives of 5,000 people over the past 15 years. But reduced to penury today, they are gasping to stay afloat.

Running from pillar to post to seek payment for their services, the two city divers today turned up at district magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Singh’s weekly janata darbar at the collectorate to lodge a complaint against nazarat deputy collector (NDC) Vinod Anand.

The divers, who are supposed to get Rs 175 a day from the district administration, are facing financial constraints. “We have not yet been paid for saving the lives of 500 people in 2008 and 2009,” Rajendra told The Telegraph before meeting the DM.

As they reached the DM’s table, Rajendra handed Singh a paper that had mention of file number and year. “Sir, we have not received payment for two years despite repeated pleas. We have met the NDC several times but he always gives a vague response and does not fulfil his promise,” Rajendra said. “Sir, we have also not been paid for our services during Chhath and Kartik Purnima this year. We worked round-the-clock to ensure the safety of devotees but it is very disappointing that the person responsible for making our payment has turned his back, ” he added:

His colleague, Keshav, told the DM: “Sir, three youths drowned in the Ganga at LCT Ghat on Kharna day. We saved two youths and retrieved three other bodies. Residents would have reacted violently had we not searched the bodies at once. We have to dive 15ft deep into the river to search for the missing persons. At times, we almost give our lives to save others but we never thought that we would have to see this day.”

After listening to the duo, the DM pointed to the assistant deputy collector (ADC) (relief), Anirudh Kumar, to find out the matter. The ADC replied: “Sir, the NDC looks after the divers’ payment. I will call him to find out the truth.”

The DM said: “You better find out and let me know the reason of delay.”