The search for Priti Dutta, who went missing at Jhargram’s Ghagra waterfall while trying to rescue her seven-year-old son, entered its second day on Sunday, with police and disaster management teams continuing operations in the area. The child fell into the water while visiting the waterfall with his parents, and Priti was swept away after entering the water to save him, according to a report by Sangbad Pratidin – Bengal.
The family had travelled from Baruipur in South 24 Parganas to Jhargram as part of a 36-member tour group. They left home on Friday and were scheduled to return on Sunday. Priti’s husband, Rajdeep Dutta, and their son, Priyankan, were reported to be physically safe after the incident, but Priti had not been located by Sunday afternoon.
According to information attributed to the family, Priyankan had been sitting with his legs extended near the water when he suddenly lost his footing and fell. Priti jumped into the water after seeing her son fall. Rajdeep, who reportedly does not know how to swim, also entered the water after seeing his wife and child in danger. He was able to bring the boy out, but Priti was carried away by the current.
Search operations continued until late on Saturday night and resumed from Sunday morning. The rescue teams were looking through the waterfall area and surrounding water. The report said rescuers believed Priti could possibly have become trapped in a crevice among the rocks, although she had not been found at the time of publication.
The incident has left the family and neighbours in Baruipur distressed. Priti’s mother-in-law, Aarti Dutta, who is over 70 and reportedly unwell, had not yet been informed about the incident because relatives were concerned about her health. The family had also restricted visitors from entering the house while they waited for updates from Jhargram.
The case highlights the risks that visitors can face around waterfalls, where slippery rocks, sudden drops and strong water currents can make rescue attempts dangerous. The account supplied in the report does not establish whether warning signs, barriers, designated viewing areas or on-site safety personnel were present at the location. It also does not provide details of the exact search area, the equipment being used or the number of rescuers involved.
Police and disaster management personnel were expected to continue the search for Priti at Ghagra. Further information about the operation and any recovery would come from the teams conducting the search and the authorities in Jhargram.
