Man returning from office falls into Ganga from launch, rescued

Arnab Chatterjee, a resident of Burdwan, fell into the Ganges River from a passenger launch on Thursday while traveling from Bagbazar to Howrah. Arnab had been in Kolkata with his family for a doctor’s visit and was returning home when the incident occurred. According to Arnab, the fall was accidental. He was rescued by alert waterways transport workers who responded quickly to retrieve him from the river.

The fall took place in the middle section of the Ganges, prompting immediate action from the crew onboard. Eyewitnesses reported seeing Arnab plunge unexpectedly into the water, leading to a swift response from the transport team who successfully pulled him to safety. After his rescue, Arnab was reportedly unharmed and gave an account of the incident, attributing the fall to an accidental slip. Local authorities have noted his statement and are investigating to confirm details surrounding the event.

This incident occurred just three days after a similar case in which a woman fell from a launch into the Ganges while traveling on the same Bagbazar-Howrah route. Despite ongoing search operations, she has not yet been found. The two incidents, occurring within days of each other, have raised concerns about passenger safety and the adequacy of emergency procedures on Kolkata’s river routes. Officials from the waterways transport department are now conducting a review of current safety measures on passenger launches to assess risks and make improvements where needed. The authorities have also urged passengers to follow all safety guidelines while onboard.