Siliguri, July 15 -- A major tragedy was averted after two youths and two women were rescued from the middle of the Balason River when their car got stranded due to a sudden rise in the water level at Dudhia's Dumpedar area under the Kurseong subdivision. A brave resident, Dil Bahadur Subba, risked his own life to rescue them.
According to reports, the tourists had driven their car into the river on Tuesday evening, when the water level was low, while visiting Dudhia.
Suddenly, the water swelled up, leaving the vehicle trapped midstream. The occupants managed to climb onto the roof of the car and called for help.
Residents rushed to the spot and carried out a rescue operation, successfully bringing all four to safety. On Wednesday morning, the administration began efforts to recover the car.
Sources said out of the four, three were from Siliguri while one was a local resident.
The incident has also raised concerns among locals, who questioned why the group drove into a mountain river during the monsoon season.
Rescuer Dil Bahadur Subba said: "Tourists should always check river conditions with locals before attempting to cross.
Such reckless acts, especially if done under the influence of alcohol, can prove fatal. I urge visitors to remain cautious."
The incident has also alarmed the tourism industry. Samrat Sanyal, secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network (HHTDN), said: "Mountain rivers can swell suddenly during the monsoon. Despite repeated warnings, some tourists take unnecessary risks out of excitement. I urge visitors to act responsibly."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.