Krishnagar, Sept. 24 -- The Ganga gave residents of West Bengal's Srirampur in Malda district little time to save their homes as severe river bank erosion caused houses to collapse one after another into the swollen river, forcing several families to flee with whatever they could carry.
At least 12 families are reported to have lost their homes in the sudden erosion at Srirampur village under Gayeshpur gram panchayat in Nadia's Santipur Assembly constituency.
Furniture, stored paddy, clothes, household possessions, crops, students' books and vital documents were swallowed by the river within barely an hour.
The destruction unfolded amid heavy rain as a large section of the riverbank suddenly gave way.
Residents rushed to evacuate their ...