Siliguri, July 10: At least three people were feared dead after an SUV vehicle fell into the Teesta River in the Darjeeling Hills near Siliguri in West Bengal on Wednesday. The missing people include two tourists from Rajasthan and a driver of the vehicle. The tourists were identified as 26-year-old Aman Gaur and 24-year-old Gourav Sharma. However, the driver of the SUV - Rakesh Rai - is a resident of Bhanu Nagar in Siliguri. Karnataka: 30 Feared Dead After Bus Plunges Into Canal in Mandya.

According to a report published in Hindustan Times, the accident took place when the SUV was travelling to Gangtok from Bagdogra airport and it went off the road. The vehicle fell into the river near Coronation Bridge, which is about 23 km from Siliguri. After getting information, authorities immediately engaged in the rescue operation. Jammu And Kashmir: 11 Dead After Vehicle Falls into Deep Gorge in Peer Ki Gali in Shopian.

Darjeeling superintendent of police Amaranth K said, as quoted by Hindustan Times, “The Teesta is in spate and rescue teams including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), state’s disaster management personnel and local people are trying to trace the vehicle.” The number plate of the vehicle and a suitcase were recovered from the site.

It is to be known that heavy rains have caused landslides in Darjeeling hills due to which roads to Sikkim got damaged at several places. Earlier on July 8, lost their lives in landslides at Pubung Phatak in Darjeeling.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 10, 2019 11:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).