Gangtok, Jun 7 (PTI): The bodies of four people from Sikkim, who had gone missing after their car fell into the Teesta river in neighbouring West Bengal two days ago, were recovered on Sunday, police said.
The bodies of Smarika Neopaney (28), Shaibya Neopaney (27), Tika Dahal (27) and Ditya Chettri (5), all residents of Lingdok in Gangtok district, were recovered from the river near Baghpul in the neighbouring state, the Sikkim Police said.
According to police, the four had left for West Bengal’s Siliguri on June 5, and later, family members lodged a complaint claiming that they were not able to contact them.
Investigators suspected that the vehicle had plunged into the Teesta river after the battery and parts of a headlamp of a car were recovered from a stretch of NH-10 overlooking the river.
Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), assisted by the police and local volunteers, launched an extensive search in the river and eventually located the submerged vehicle, the police said.
The bodies of all four occupants were recovered from inside the vehicle, they said.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that the group was travelling to Siliguri to visit their parents, who were undergoing medical treatment there. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang expressed grief over the deaths and extended condolences to the bereaved family members.
In a statement, he thanked the West Bengal Police, NDRF personnel, social workers and local residents for their efforts during the search operation.
Describing the tragedy as a reminder of the risks associated with travel during the monsoon season, Tamang urged people to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary journeys during adverse weather conditions and strictly follow official safety advisories.
