Gangtok, April 18: A 40-year-old man drowned in a tributary of the Teesta in East Sikkim last evening while trying to rescue three persons marooned atop a truck stuck in the river that rose suddenly following heavy rain.
Three men were loading sand on the truck and another was cleaning his Tata Sumo in the Rangpo, when the water level began rising around 5pm.
One person engaged in the sand loading swam to safety, while the remaining three climbed atop the truck. The river swelled further and the Tata Sumo was soon submerged in the water.
Around 6.30pm, despite the heavy shower and fading light, residents of Rangpo, located 44km from here, swung into action to save the three sitting atop the truck. Rangpo police also joined the operation.
The driver of the Tata Sumo was pulled through the fast flowing river by the rescuers who had a degree of protection with ropes tied around their waist. “But the rope around Bhola Tamang loosened and he was swept downstream,” said an officer of Rangpo police station.
Tamang was pulled out of the water by other rescue workers and taken to the nearest hospital at Singtam, 12km away. He was declared dead on arrival by the hospital authorities.
The other two, Dil Bahadur Gurung and Md Salim, hanged on for dear life even as the river rose to the bonnet of the truck.
Around 10pm, army personnel arrived with a raft and the duo were safely brought to the riverbank.
District collector, East, D Anandan told The Telegraph that compensation would be released to the family members of the deceased according to government rules once a report on the incident was submitted to him by the block officer concerned.
The rain that lasted for hours triggered at least a dozen minor mud slides in Gangtok, some along the NH31A. However, no major damage has been reported and the debris has been removed.
“We are on alert as the district has been experiencing heavy rains for the past few days. Quick Response Teams have been formed and a control room has been set up,” said Anandan.
Source: The Telegraph
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