A 36-year-old private tutor died of electrocution in Dhupguri, Jalpaiguri, after his motorcycle became entangled in a fallen power wire submerged in rainwater, as severe weather continued to disrupt transport and damage infrastructure across North Bengal.
Rajendra Mahato, a resident of Magurmari in Dhupguri, was returning home by motorcycle after completing tuition work on Thursday night when the incident occurred. The road was waterlogged, and the motorcycle’s wheel became caught in the broken wire lying in the rainwater, according to a report by Anandabazar – West Bengal.
Local residents were unable to disconnect the electricity supply from the transformer before Mahato died. The body was not recovered until representatives of the electricity department arrived. Police and electricity officials were present when the situation was brought under control.
The report said Mahato’s family was assured compensation of Rs 5 lakh. Officials also promised repairs to the electricity infrastructure in the affected area. The assurances followed demands for the presence of electricity department representatives before the body could be removed.
The death occurred as rain, sudden rises in river levels and landslides continued to affect North Bengal from Thursday. Water from the Teesta river entered the Chapadanga area of Jalpaiguri’s Kranti block, leaving the locality waterlogged. Residents affected by the flooding took shelter on an embankment, while the irrigation department began repairs after identifying vulnerable sections along the Teesta.
Transport connections in the region were also disrupted. Toy train services on the hill route were suspended from Thursday because of landslides, and the New Jalpaiguri-Darjeeling toy train was cancelled on Friday. A landslide in the Bardang area blocked several roads from Mangan in Sikkim. A 20 Mile stretch on the Sikkim section of National Highway 10, which connects Siliguri with Sikkim, was also closed.
Travel was affected in Madarihat after water levels in the Holong river rose suddenly following rain in Bhutan. The crossing remained closed for a prolonged period, causing difficulties for tourists and other travellers.
The Central Meteorological Department said the adverse weather would continue in North Bengal for several days, with low-pressure-system rainfall expected to persist. The Dhupguri death has placed the immediate risk from damaged electricity infrastructure in waterlogged streets alongside the region’s wider flood, landslide and transport emergency.
