Siliguri: Four persons, including two women, were rescued after their SUV got stranded in the swollen Balason river at Dudhia, on the outskirts of Siliguri, on Tuesday night.Police said all four escaped unhurt. They were rescued with the help of local residents after the river swelled rapidly following continuous monsoon rain.The incident occurred around 9.30 pm, when the occupants allegedly drove their SUV onto the riverbed, a popular picnic and tourist spot. As the water level rose sharply, the vehicle got trapped midstream. The occupants climbed onto the roof and waited for help.Local residents noticed the incident and launched a rescue operation. One local youth entered the fast-flowing river while others formed a human chain to bring the stranded occupants to safety. During the rescue, one of the women was briefly swept away by the current before being pulled back.Laxmi Subba, a resident of Dudhia, said two customers at her shop had warned the visitors not to enter the river because the water level was rising.“They were repeatedly asked not to enter the river as the water level was rising, but they ignored the warnings. The vehicle got stuck and my brother, along with other local residents, rescued them. They appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and were later taken to the Sukna Health Centre,” she said.She said tourists had been repeatedly warned not to enter the river during the monsoon.“We appeal to tourists and visitors not to venture into the river at this time of the year. The water level rises suddenly during heavy rain. The bridge at Dudhia was recently washed away in the floods, and the Army had to construct a Bailey bridge to restore connectivity,” Subba said.One of the rescuers, Dil Kumar Subba, urged tourists to be careful during the rainy season.“We request all tourists not to enter the river during the rainy season. People often come here, consume alcohol and drive into the riverbed, putting their lives at risk. We have repeatedly appealed through social media asking people to stay away from river areas during the monsoon, but many continue to ignore the warnings,” he said.Police recovered the SUV from the river on Wednesday.“All four occupants were rescued safely with the assistance of local residents. There were no casualties or serious injuries. The vehicle has also been recovered from the river. We once again urge people not to venture into riverbeds during the monsoon as water levels can rise suddenly due to heavy rainfall upstream,” said a senior police officer.
