Jetty submerges in water in Hooghly river, 3 dead, 65 missing; rescue operation on

Kolkata: At least three people were killed after a jetty submerged in water due to high tide in Bhadreswar of Hooghly district, West Bengal.

The accident took place when the passengers bound for Shyamnagar in North 24 Parganas district were waiting at the 150-feet high bamboo jetty at Telinipara for boarding a launch to cross the river.

Around 12 others are said to be missing.

Of the three dead, two have been identified as Raja Chaudhary and Manas Ghosh, both residents of Chandanagar in the district, according to Bhadreswar municipality chairman Manoj Upadhyay.

Hooghly Superintendent of Police Sukesh Jain said that local people, who swung into action in small boats, traced 18 of those who fell into the river. Later, three more missing persons were rescued, while 12 others were yet to be traced.

When they were taken to Chandannagar sub-divisional hospital, three of them including two women, were declared "brought dead", as per PTI.

NDRF Deputy Commandent (Kolkata) Abhay Kumar Singh said, "Various factors like tides and poor visibility are hampering the rescue operation."

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of the dead and Rs 25,000 for the injured.

Governor KN Tripathi in a message conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.

(With Agency inputs)