Most engineering students dream of landing a good job after graduation. Vimal Govind MK, Rashid K, Arun George and Nikhil NP were no different. They studied together at MES College of Engineering in Kerala, graduating with plans to build successful careers and enter the corporate world like countless young engineers across India. But a tragic incident changed everything – and eventually changed his life as well.Today, the four founders are recognized on the Forbes Asia Under 30 list in the Industry, Manufacturing & Energy category. His startup, Genrobotics, built Bandicoot, India’s pioneering robotic cleaning machine that helps eliminate the need for humans to enter toxic sewers. Their journey from engineering students to award-winning innovators began not in a lab, but with a heartbreaking news report they couldn’t ignore.
The tragedy they could not forget
In 2015, three people lost their lives in a well in Kozhikode, Kerala. Two municipal workers had entered a drain to remove a blockage when they were trapped inside. An autorickshaw driver stopped to help, climbed into the grave, and never came out.The incident deeply affected the four students.
The four engineering students – Vimal Govind MK, Rashid K, Arun George and Nikhil NP – from MES College of Engineering in Kerala. (Photo: X post)
Rashid K later recalled that until then, they hardly knew what a well system was, because their country did not have one. But when they learned more about the accident, they realized it was not an isolated incident. Across India, manual scavenging had continued despite being banned since 1993. Workers still entered sewers filled with poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulphide, methane and ammonia, often without protective equipment or safety measures.Many belonged to marginalized communities, and generations of families remained trapped in the same dangerous occupation. The four students came to a simple but powerful conclusion: if technology could send machines into factories, space and deep oceans, why were human beings still being sent into toxic sewers?Instead of moving on from history, they decided to build a solution.
From stable jobs to building a lifesaving robot
After graduation, all four founders accepted corporate jobs. But the problem never left his mind.When the Kerala government invited innovators in 2017 to develop a robotic alternative to manual scavenging, they took a bold decision. They quit their jobs, returned to Kerala and dedicated themselves to solving one of India’s oldest and most neglected challenges.The result is Bandicoot – a 50 kilo robotic machine designed to clean graves without the need for human input.The spider-like robot descends into the grave, stabilizes itself using expandable legs and uses a 360-degree robotic arm to remove mud and solid waste. Tasks that once took many workers nearly two hours can now be completed in about 45 minutes.But perhaps the biggest success is not the machine itself.Many sanitation workers who once risked their lives entering wells are now trained to operate Bandicoot safely from above ground. The same people who worked in life-threatening conditions are now controlling advanced robotic technology, marking a change not only in engineering, but also in dignity, safety and opportunity.
Changing cities – and changing mindsets
Bandicoot’s impact has grown steadily over the years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Bandicoot 2.0, and the robots are now deployed in 22 Indian states and four other countries.Cities are increasingly embracing robotic sewer cleaning technology. Bengaluru, for example, has introduced AI-enabled robotic systems through the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to inspect, monitor and clean sewer networks without exposing workers to hazardous environments. High-resolution cameras, sensors and robotic inspection systems help civic agencies detect blockages and keep underground infrastructure safer and more efficient.The change has also become symbolic. The Government of India has officially replaced the term “manhole” with “machine hole”, reflecting a larger view that the dangerous work of cleaning sewers should be done by machines, not people.For Vimal Govind MK, Rashid K, Arun George and Nikhil NP, the biggest reward is not just being recognized by Forbes Asia Under 30 or seeing their innovation adopted across India. It is knowing that an accident that once caused three deaths inspired a solution that could help prevent many more such tragedies in the future.Their story is a reminder that some of the world’s most significant innovations don’t start with billion-dollar ideas or cutting-edge labs. Sometimes, they start with four engineering students who simply refuse to accept that a preventable tragedy should ever happen.Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available reports and statements regarding the founders of Genrobotica, the development of Bandicoot and the implementation of robotic sewer cleaning technology in India. Implementation, adoption and operational details may vary between cities and government agencies. Readers are advised to refer to official sources for the latest information.
