POSERS ON MISSING TOURISTS ... Rajasthan official seeks search details

TT, 19 July 2019, Siliguri: An additional district magistrate posted in Bundi district of Rajasthan has arrived in Siliguri for information on the search operation in the Teesta for two tourists from the desert state missing for the past eight days after their SUV feel into the rain-swollen river.

Three tourists from Bundi, one of whose body has been found, were travelling to Sikkim on July 10 for a tour being sponsored by their employer as reward for performance when their car skilled off the road and plunged into the Teesta. The driver, a Siliguri resident, is also missing.

"I have come here to see the progress of the operation to locate the tourists, who are from my state. So far, the body of one of the tourists has been recovered. I have spoken to the state tourism minister (Gautam Deb) about the steps being taken by the Bengal government," said Kartar Singh, the ADM.

Singh met Deb at the minister's office at Mainak Tourist Lodge in Siliguri. Later, the official also visited Sevoke to learn about the search operation.

Aman Garg, Akash Sharma and Gopal Narwani had reached Siliguri on July 10 and were travelling to Sikkim when their vehicle went off NH10 and plunged into the Teesta near the Sevoke Coronation Bridge.

On July 12, Aman's body was recovered around 50km downstream at Gajoldoba, where the Teesta Barrage is located.

Rakesh Rai, the driver who hails from Bhanunagar of Siliguri, is still missing, as are Akash and Gopal.

NDRF personnel, along with local rescue teams, who have been conducting the search in the Teesta had informed the administration after five days that they needed the help of more experts. Two divers from the Indian Navy joined the search on Wednesday.

After conducting a recce of the site, the divers from Visakhapatnam said they would require more equipment for the search, particularly because the Teesta was in spate.