Flash floods during idol immersion in North Bengal claims 8 lives

8 persons drowned and several others were feared missing, after they were swept away due to flash floods in the Mal river in Jalpaiguri district during idol immersion on the occasion of Vijayadashami

Jalpaiguri, Oct 06: At least eight persons drowned and several others were feared missing, after they were swept away due to flash floods in the Mal river in Jalpaiguri district during idol immersion on the occasion of 'Vijayadashami', a senior official said.

The incident took place in the evening 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.

8 dead after flash flood hit Mal River in West Bengals Jalpaiguri during idol immersion

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/n6DyFe6usY#MalRiver #FlashFlood #JalpaiguriAccident #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/IGnzP4BmdX

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) October 6, 2022

So far, eight bodies have been recovered, and we have rescued around 50 people," Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara told PTI.

#WATCH | WB: Flash flood hits Mal River in Jalpaiguri during Durga Visarjan; 7 people dead, several feared missing

Many people were trapped in river & many washed away. Bodies of 7 people were recovered. NDRF& civil defence deployed; rescue underway: Jalpaiguri SP Debarshi Dutta pic.twitter.com/cRT3nnp7Gz

— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2022

"The search and rescue operations are underway and being carried out by teams of the NDRF, SDRF, police and local administration,” she said.