Man dies as car swept away while crossing submerged bridge in West Bengal
Times of India | 3 August 2024
Image used for representative purpose only KOLKATA: One person died after his car was swept away while crossing a submerged bridge in the Kalyanpur Housing area of Asansol, West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district.
Torrential rains have caused significant waterlogging in the region, affecting areas like Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman, and Kolkata. Flight operations at Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport were suspended due to waterlogging.
The tragic incident occurred as the vehicle attempted to cross the submerged Kalyanpur Housing area bridge.Despite warnings from locals, the driver proceeded and the car was swept away by the strong current. Officials have confirmed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) recovered the body on Saturday and sent it for post-mortem.
"Locals said that the driver had been warned against crossing the submerged bridge."
Heavy rainfall has resulted in waterlogging across multiple districts. In Asansol, the downpour has led to temporary suspension of flight operations at Kazi Nazrul Islam (KNI) airport. Water levels on the runway and other service areas have started to recede, and restoration efforts are underway.
In Birbhum district, swollen rivers have flooded many temporary bridges, affecting daily life. The Kankalitala Temple’s sanctum sanctorum has been underwater since Thursday. The heavy rains have caused the Kopai River to exceed the danger mark, prompting the closure of the temple.
In Kolkata's Salt Lake City, the Bidhannagar Municipality has deployed pumps to drain water from the IT hub and other affected areas.
Officials expect Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport to be operational later on Saturday, as water levels continue to drop and restoration work progresses.