They were just four engineering students until a tragedy led them to the Forbes Asia Under 30 list.
Many engineering students dream of getting a good job after graduation. Vimal Govind MK, Rashid K, Arun George and Nikhil NP were no exception. They studied together at MES College of Engineering in Kerala, graduated with plans to create successful careers and entered the industry as one of the few young engineers in India. But one tragic event changed everything—and eventually changed their lives.Today, these four founders are featured in the Forbes Asia Under 30 list in the Industry, Innovation & Energy category. Their startup, Genrobotics, has developed Bandicoot, India’s pioneer robotic manhole cleaning machine that is helping to eliminate the need for people to enter toxic sewers. Their journey from engineering students to successful artists didn’t start in a laboratory, but it’s a heartbreaking story they couldn’t ignore.
A tragedy he would never forget
In 2015, three people lost their lives inside a sinkhole in Kozhikode, Kerala. Crews from two towns entered the river to remove a barrier where they were trapped inside. The truck driver stopped to help, climbed into the ditch—and never got out.The incident had a profound impact on the four students.
Four engineering students – Vimal Govind MK, Rashid K, Arun George and Nikhil NP – from MES College of Engineering in Kerala. (Image: X post)
Rashid K later recalled that until then, he did not know what a pit was because his village did not have one. But after learning more about the accident, he realized that it was not an isolated incident. Across India, manual scavenging continued despite being banned since 1993. Workers were entering tunnels filled with toxic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, methane and ammonia, often without protective equipment or protective measures.Many were from oppressed communities, and generations of families remained trapped in the same dangerous work. The four students came to a simple but powerful conclusion: if technology could send machines into factories, into space and into the deep seas, why were people still being sent to toxic sewers?Instead of continuing the story, he decided to come up with a solution.
From regular jobs to building a life-saving robot
After graduation, all four founders received corporate jobs. But the problem did not leave their minds.When the Kerala government invited experts in 2017 to develop a robotic alternative to manual scavenging, they took a bold decision. He quit his job, returned to Kerala and dedicated himself to solving one of India’s oldest and most neglected problems.The result was Bandicoot—a 50-kilogram robotic machine designed to clean potholes without forcing a human to enter.The spider-like robot lowers itself into the hole, stabilizes itself using outstretched legs and uses a 360-degree robotic arm to remove debris and solid waste. Jobs that took several workers about two hours can be completed in about 45 minutes.But perhaps the greatest achievement is not the machine itself.Many sanitation workers who once risked their lives by going in on foot have now been trained to use the Bandicoot safely from above ground. The same people who once worked at life’s risk are now managing advanced robotics technology, which is signaling a shift not only in engineering but also in respect, safety and opportunity.
Changing cities – and changing minds
Bandicoot’s influence has steadily grown over the years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Bandicoot 2.0, and the robots have now been deployed in 22 Indian states and four other countries.Cities are increasingly adopting robotic water cleaning technology. For example, Bengaluru has implemented AI-powered robotic systems through Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to inspect, monitor and clean sewer networks without exposing workers to hazardous areas. State-of-the-art cameras, sensors and robotics help the public sector identify obstacles and maintain underground infrastructure safely and efficiently.The change has also been symbolic. The Indian government has officially replaced the term “well” with “mechanized borehole”, reflecting a broader vision that the dangerous task of cleaning drains should be done by machines rather than 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 talent taken across India. I know that the accident that killed three people provided a solution that will help prevent more accidents like this in the future.Their story is a reminder that some of the world’s most meaningful innovations don’t start with billion-dollar ideas or cutting-edge laboratories. Sometimes, it starts with four engineering students who simply refuse to accept that a preventable disaster must happen again.Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on reports and comments from many people about the founders of Genrobotics, the development of Bandicoot and the deployment of robotic water cleaning technologies in India. The details of deployment, implementation and operation may vary between cities and municipalities. Readers are advised to refer to the official sources for the latest information.
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