Shraddha started swimming at the age of two when her grandfather, Munnu Shukla, a diver, took her to the Ganga. She soon developed "fins of her own", her father Lalit Shukla said the family encouraged the girl as she wanted to swim long distances. Eight divers are accompanying her to Varanasi. A doctor is also on board for any emergencies. "The current is very strong and the river is in spate, so we cannot take any chances" her father added.