An Army jawan drowned during a rafting training exercise in the fast-flowing Teesta River on Monday in North Bengal’s Kalimpong, triggering concern and raising questions over safety measures during the drill. The incident occurred near Tarkhola on the West Bengal–Sikkim border.
The deceased has been identified as Raj Shekhar, a Lance Naik of the 191 Artillery Regiment, posted at the Bangdubi Army camp near Siliguri, according to police and Army sources.
Sources said the training was being conducted in preparation for a national-level rafting competition scheduled to be held in the coming year, in which personnel from the Army’s Eastern Command were to participate. As part of this, soldiers from the 33 Trishakti Corps began rafting training on Sunday, with additional exercises planned for Monday.
On Monday, a team of 16 soldiers set out for rafting in the Teesta, starting from Bardang in Sikkim. Another Army team followed the rafters along National Highway 55 to monitor the exercise. The soldiers were scheduled to raft up to Teesta Bazaar.
However, the incident occurred when the team reached Tarkhola. According to sources, a broken portion of an old bridge at Tarkhola was submerged in the river. Due to the relatively low water level in the Teesta that day, a metal rod protruding from the damaged structure got lodged in one of the rafts. This caused Lance Naik Raj Shekhar to lose balance and fall into the river, where he was swept away by the strong current.
Rescue efforts were immediately launched by fellow soldiers. Another raft was deployed, but the swift current hampered the operation. After an initial search using two rafts, the body was located. Subsequently, the rafts were secured with ropes from the iron bridge at Tarkhola to continue the rescue operation, and the body was eventually retrieved using ropes.
CPR was administered after the rescue, but the soldier could not be revived. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Army officials declined to comment on the incident. Kalimpong District Magistrate Kuhuk Bhushan confirmed the death, saying, “An accident occurred in the Teesta River during rafting training by Army personnel. One soldier died in the incident. The entire matter is also being looked into by the Army.”
Further details are awaited as authorities examine the circumstances leading to the incident.
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