Video: Darjeeling locals' daring rescue saves group stranded in river atop Thar
Darjeeling locals braved the strong currents of the swollen Balason river to rescue four youngsters stranded atop a Mahindra Thar midstream using ropes. The incident came amid heavy rain warnings and concerns over sudden rises in river levels across Darjeeling.
Four youngsters had a narrow escape after their Mahindra Thar got stranded in the swollen Balason river in West Bengal's Darjeeling district on Tuesday evening, with dramatic videos capturing local residents risking their lives to rescue them using ropes.
The incident occurred at Dudhia, a popular picnic spot along the Balason river, where four people, two men and two women, had driven their Thar into the riverbed.
The group was attempting to drive across the Balason river when the water level suddenly surged following heavy rain in the hills, trapping the vehicle midstream.
Unable to move the SUV to safety, the occupants climbed onto its roof as the river continued to swell around them. Videos from the spot showed the four waiting anxiously for help while locals gathered along the riverbank and quickly organised a rescue operation.
Braving the strong current, residents threw ropes to the stranded group and guided them to safety one by one. During the rescue, one of the women was briefly swept away by the strong current but was quickly pulled to safety. All four were rescued without any reported injuries.
The incident comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of very heavy rainfall in parts of West Bengal over the coming week under the influence of a low-pressure area over the north Bay of Bengal.
The weather office has cautioned that heavy rain could trigger landslides in the hill districts of Darjeeling and cause a sudden rise in the water levels of rivers and streams.
The Balason river has witnessed repeated swelling this monsoon. Last month, a temporary hume pipe bridge at Dudhia was damaged after the river rose sharply due to incessant rain, disrupting connectivity between Siliguri and the Mirik subdivision.
The structure had been built after the original Dudhia iron bridge was washed away earlier this year.
Four youngsters had a narrow escape after their Mahindra Thar got stranded in the swollen Balason river in West Bengal's Darjeeling district on Tuesday evening, with dramatic videos capturing local residents risking their lives to rescue them using ropes.
The incident occurred at Dudhia, a popular picnic spot along the Balason river, where four people, two men and two women, had driven their Thar into the riverbed.
The group was attempting to drive across the Balason river when the water level suddenly surged following heavy rain in the hills, trapping the vehicle midstream.
Unable to move the SUV to safety, the occupants climbed onto its roof as the river continued to swell around them. Videos from the spot showed the four waiting anxiously for help while locals gathered along the riverbank and quickly organised a rescue operation.
Braving the strong current, residents threw ropes to the stranded group and guided them to safety one by one. During the rescue, one of the women was briefly swept away by the strong current but was quickly pulled to safety. All four were rescued without any reported injuries.
The incident comes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of very heavy rainfall in parts of West Bengal over the coming week under the influence of a low-pressure area over the north Bay of Bengal.
The weather office has cautioned that heavy rain could trigger landslides in the hill districts of Darjeeling and cause a sudden rise in the water levels of rivers and streams.
The Balason river has witnessed repeated swelling this monsoon. Last month, a temporary hume pipe bridge at Dudhia was damaged after the river rose sharply due to incessant rain, disrupting connectivity between Siliguri and the Mirik subdivision.
The structure had been built after the original Dudhia iron bridge was washed away earlier this year.
