West Bengal: The incident happened within the nighttime when loads of human beings collected at the banks of the Mal river to participate in the immersion ceremony.
At least eight people drowned and numerous others went lacking when they had been swept away inside the Mal river because of flash floods at some stage in idol immersion on Vijayadashami in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri, a senior legit stated. Four of the useless are ladies.
The incident happened round 8.30 pm on Wednesday when hundreds of human beings accrued on the banks of the Mal river to participate in the immersion rite.
“All of a surprising, flash floods struck and those have been swept away. So some distance, eight bodies have been recovered and we have rescued around 50 people,” Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara informed PTI.
She said 13 human beings, who received minor injuries, have been admitted to a close-by clinic.
“The search and rescue operations are underway and being finished by way of groups of the NDRF, SDRF, police and local management. The search operations have started downstream,” she said.
State Backward Class Welfare Minister Bulu Chik Baraik, who is the MLA from the Mal Assembly constituency, feared that the death matter may also boom.
“I was gift on the spot when the incident occurred. Several people have been swept away and the water present day was very sturdy. Hundreds of people had been present when the incident befell. Several are nevertheless lacking,” he said.
Mr Baraik and senior Trinamool leaders rushed to the spot to supervise the relaxation and rescue operations.
Leader of the Opposition within the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari asked the country management to step up the rescue efforts.
“Saddening news coming from Jalpaiguri as flash flood in Mal river all through Durga Puja immersion swept away many human beings. Few deaths have been pronounced till now. I request the DM of Jalpaiguri & @chief_west to urgently step up rescue efforts & provide help to the ones in misery,” he tweeted.