Woman Swept Away by Strong Current While Rescuing Son at Bengal Waterfall

A woman was swept away by strong currents while attempting to rescue her seven-year-old son after he accidentally fell into the water at Ghagra waterfall in West Bengal's Jhargram district on Saturday, police said.

The woman's husband managed to rescue their son but could not save his wife, who was swept away by the current, they said.

The woman, identified as Preeti Dutta, was visiting the waterfall with her husband Rajdeep and their seven-year-old son. The family is from Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district.

According to police, the family was part of a group of around 36 tourists who had travelled to Jhargram and were staying at different hotels in the district. The group visited Ghagra waterfall at around noon.

The family was taking photographs near the waterfall when the child accidentally slipped and fell into the water, a senior police officer said.

Preeti immediately jumped into the water in an attempt to save her son. Her husband Rajdeep, an employee of a private company, also entered the water to rescue them.

Rajdeep managed to reach his son and bring him safely to the shore, but he could not save his wife as the strong current swept her away. Police said Preeti did not know how to swim.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, personnel from Belpahari police station and the disaster management department launched a search operation. Local residents also joined the efforts to trace the missing woman.

Jhargram Superintendent of Police Manav Singla confirmed that an accident had occurred at the waterfall and said the child had been rescued, while the search for his mother was continuing.

The incident comes amid concerns over safety at waterfalls and other tourist spots during the season, with authorities often warning visitors against venturing too close to strong currents or entering deep water.