VIDEO: 8 people drown in flash flood in Mal river during Durga idols immersion in Bengal, many feared missing

Mal Bazar: At least eight people drowned and many more are feared missing during the Durga idol immersion in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district when rain-fed Mal river washed away scores of revellers official said on Thursday.

The mishap happened at around 8.30 PM on Wednesday when a sudden flash flood in the Mal river swept away scores of unaware revellers who were busy immersing their Dura idols, Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara confirmed.

So far eight bodies were fished out since Wednesday night.

She said some unidentified number of people also went missing.

So far 15/16 people have been admitted with multiple wounds to the nearby hospital.

The mishap happened when a flash flood happened in the dark as the revellers were chanting "Durga Maiki Joy" and " Ashey Bochor abar Hobey" amid the beating of drums and blowing conch shells, an eyewitness told the rescuers.

#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

He said many people were seen swimming to safety before eight of them were swept away by the deluge.

Sources said among the dead four were women and a minor.

Search operation, which was halted in the night, began this morning if any survivor was found, police added. (UNI)