Speedboat Overturns During Flood-Affected Area Visit: MPs, MLA and Officials Narrowly Escape

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 19, 2024, Birbhum : A potentially disastrous incident occurred in Lovepur, Birbhum, when a speedboat carrying high-ranking officials and politicians overturned while they were inspecting flood-affected areas. The boat, which had onboard two Members of Parliament, MLAs, the District Magistrate, and other key officials, suddenly capsized, plunging everyone into the water.

Bidhan Roy, District Magistrate of Bolpur; Abhijit SIngh, MLA; Asit Mal, MP; and Samirul Islam, Rajya Sabha MP  were among those rescued from the water. Following the rescue, they were immediately taken for medical treatment, although it is reported that none sustained serious injuries.

The incident occurred this afternoon during a visit to assess the flood damage in Lovepur. Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam, along with District Magistrate Bolpur, MP Asit Mal, Lovepur MLA Abhijit Sinha, and several other prominent figures, embarked on a speedboat to inspect the worst-hit areas. The group also included local disaster management officials. The Police Superintendent, who had initially joined the group, remained onshore.

Tragedy struck when the speedboat suddenly overturned in the waterlogged area. Fortunately, members of the disaster response team, along with local residents and police officers, quickly sprang into action to rescue everyone on board. Eyewitnesses report that the rescue was swift, and all passengers were brought to safety without any major injuries.

However, a significant safety concern emerged after it was revealed that most of the passengers were not wearing life jackets at the time of the accident. The lack of basic safety measures has raised questions about the preparedness of the officials during such inspections, especially in hazardous flood conditions.

Despite the close call, the quick response from the disaster management team and locals prevented a catastrophe. The incident has since brought attention to the importance of proper safety protocols during flood inspections, especially when high-profile individuals are involved.