A tem­po­rary jet­ty in West Ben­gal col­lapsed hurl­ing about 100 peo­ple into the fast flow­ing Ganges River.

Nation­al Coor­di­na­tor for Dis­as­ter Com­mu­ni­ca­tion in India, Jayu S. Bhide VU2JAU reports that the dis­as­ter was on Wednes­day April 26.

Offi­cials report today that the death toll was four­teen and at least 10 oth­ers have not been found.

Jayu VU2JAU said: “Ambr­ish VU2JFA and his team (from the West Ben­gal Radio Club) worked around the clock. They had a very hard time but were ded­i­cat­ed to the work and doing a great job.”

He said from reports he had received the jet­ty had peo­ple of var­i­ous ages wait­ing for a fer­ry when it col­lapsed throw­ing them in the Ganges Riv­er. For­tu­nate­ly most were res­cued, some able to swim ashore, but bod­ies had been recovered.

More infor­ma­tion on the acci­dent and the roll of HAMs was expect­ed in debrief­ing reports. A fine effort by those from the West Ben­gal Radio Club.

– Jim Lin­ton VK3PC, Chair­man IARU Region 3 Dis­as­ter Com­mu­ni­ca­tions Com­mit­tee with Jayu S. Bhide VU2JAU.