A leisure trip turned into an immense tragedy at the picturesque Ghagra waterfalls in West Bengal's Jhargram district on Saturday. A seven-year-old boy slipped and fell into the forceful waters, prompting his mother to jump in immediately in an attempt to save him. While the child's father managed to plunge in and rescue the boy, the mother was rapidly carried away by the powerful current and remains untraced.
Sightseeing Group Arrived in Jhargram
The family was part of a larger travel group comprising approximately 36 tourists who had arrived in Jhargram earlier on Saturday. Members of the touring party had checked into multiple hotels across the district before heading out for local sightseeing. Around 12 noon, the visitors gathered at Ghagra waterfalls to explore the scenic surroundings. Among them were Baruipur resident Priti Dutta, her husband Rajdeep Dutta, and their seven-year-old son. Rajdeep works as an employee in a private firm and was on a holiday trip with his family.
Accidental Slip While Taking Photographs
The incident occurred while the family was spending time close to the edge of the waterfall. Like many other tourists at the spot, they were busy capturing photographs against the backdrop of the flowing water. Suddenly, the young boy lost his footing on the slippery surface and fell directly into the rushing water stream, sparking immediate panic among the onlookers.
Mother Jumped to Save Son, Father Pulled Child Out
Witnessing her son fall into the dangerous water, Priti दत्ता jumped in without hesitation to pull him out. Sensing the extreme danger, her husband Rajdeep Dutta dived straight into the churning stream right after her. Battling the current, Rajdeep managed to reach the seven-year-old child and dragged him back to safety. However, Priti did not know how to swim, and the fierce momentum of the water swept her downstream before anyone could reach her.
Search Operations Launched by Police and Disaster Teams
The local authorities were alerted immediately following the accident. Personnel from Belpahari police station and teams from the disaster management department rushed to the site to launch an extensive search and rescue operation. Several local residents also assisted official teams in scouring the water downstream. Jhargram Superintendent of Police Manav Singla stated that while the child was safely rescued after the accident at Ghagra waterfalls, the mother could not be located immediately and search efforts remain actively underway.
