Jalpaiguri, West Bengal: As many as 8 died and several others went missing after they were swept away in the Mal river due to flash floods during idol immersion on Vijayadashami, a senior official said.
The incident took place around 8.30 pm on Wednesday when hundreds of people gathered on the banks of the Mal river to participate in the immersion ceremony.” All of a sudden, flash floods struck and people were swept away. So far, eight bodies have been recovered and we have rescued around 50 people,” Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara told reporters.
Four women died are among those killed in the tragic incident in Jalpaiguri district. 13 people injured in the incident have been hospitalised.
SDRF, NDRF teams in collaboration with the district administration and police have initiated the search and rescue operation.
Visuals of the incident showed people struggling against the river current as they tried to move to the banks. Video making rounds on the social media showed many of them were being swept away, while some clung to others to save themselves.
Baraik and senior TMC leaders rushed to the spot to oversee the relief and rescue operations. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari requested the state administration to step up the rescue efforts.