Bulu Chik Baraik, the MLA for the Mal Assembly constituency and the minister of Bengal’s Backward Classes Welfare, feared that the death toll would rise.Â
According to a senior official, a flash flood that hit West Bengal’s Mal River during the immersion of Goddess Durga’s idols last night has claimed at least eight lives and left a number of others missing.Â
Among those slain in the terrible occurrence in the Jalpaiguri district are four women.Â
According to District Magistrate Moumita Godara, who spoke to the news agency PTI, hundreds of people gathered on the river’s banks last night in preparation for the immersion.Â
“A flash flood suddenly struck, carrying many away. We have saved about 50 people so far, and eight bodies have been found, “the woman stated.Â
The district magistrate stated that thirteen people with minor injuries have been admitted to a nearby hospital.Â
Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, police and local governments are working together to conduct search and rescue operations. She said the search activities have begun for her.Â
Images of the incident showed people battling the river’s flow as they made their way to the banks. Many of them can be seen being carried away, while some cling to one another for safety.
Bulu Chik Baraik, the MLA for the Mal Assembly constituency and the minister of Bengal’s Backward Classes Welfare, feared that the death toll would rise.Â
“When the incident took place, I was nearby. There were numerous people who were carried away by the powerful water stream. There were hundreds of people there when the tragedy happened. “A number of people remain missing”, he stated.
Mr. Baraik and senior Trinamool leaders hurried to the scene to oversee the rescue efforts.
According to the office of the Prime Minister (PMO), Prime Minister Narendra Modi was upset by the accident that occurred during the Durga Puja celebrations in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.
Prime Minister tweeted that the next of kin of each deceased person would receive Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF, while the injured would receive Rs. 50,000 in the tragic Durga Puja flash floods.
Suvendu Adhikari, the opposition leader in the Bengal Assembly, asked the state government to speed up rescue efforts.
A flash flood on the Mal river during the Durga Puja immersion has tragically claimed numerous lives in Jalpaiguri. Until now, few fatalities have been reported. He tweeted. “I ask Chief West and the DM of Jalpaiguri to swiftly ramp up rescue efforts and help those in need.”
Suvendu Adhikari later tweeted about how Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the CMO were inefficient in looking into the tragedy that claimed the lives of people while leaving many injured.
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