Garbeta, 27 July (H.S.): A religious outing turned tragic in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district on the second Monday of the holy month of Shravan when two devotees went missing after being swept away while bathing in the Shilabati River. One of them has been found dead, while the search for the other is continuing.

The deceased has been identified as Milan Das (28). The incident took place in the Kantor area of Garbeta.

According to local sources, a group of seven devotees had gone to collect holy water from the Shilabati River before offering it at the Kantornath Temple. Before collecting the water, the group entered the river for a ritual bath. They were reportedly caught in a strong current and all seven were swept away.

Local residents and the administration launched an immediate rescue operation and managed to pull five devotees out of the river alive. Later, with the help of local people, police recovered the body of Milan Das.

Another devotee remains missing, and a search operation is underway. Divers have been deployed in the Shilabati River as the administration continues efforts to locate the missing person.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey