पश्चिम बंगालच्या मालदा येथे गंगा नदीच्या भीषण धूपेमुळे ऐतिहासिक...

By GT24x7 Reporter · 8 September 2026 · GlobalToday24x7

A historic and revered Shiva temple standing on the banks of the River Ganga in West Bengal’s Malda district was completely swallowed by the river within seconds on Sunday evening, following relentless riverbank erosion and swelling water levels. The collapse occurred at Muliram Tola within the Mahanandatola Gram Panchayat area of Ratua-I block, where raging currents have rapidly eaten away at the embankments over recent days.

Video footage circulating widely on social media captures the terrifying incident, showing local residents shouting in despair as the foundational soil beneath the temple gives way. Within moments, the ancient brick and concrete structure tilts forward, snaps under the water's immense pressure, and vanishes entirely beneath the turbulent brown waters of the Ganga, leaving behind only floating debris and foam.

Failed Reinforcement Efforts and Worsening Crisis

Local communities had observed the advancing shoreline erosion over the weekend and rushed to deploy makeshift protections:

* Desperate Defense with Sandbags: Sensing imminent danger, scores of devotees and villagers had mobilized along the water's edge, placing hundreds of sandbags and temporary earthen barriers around the perimeter of the shrine in a frantic bid to stop the undercutting currents. * Overwhelmed by Strong Currents: The surging volume of the river—aggravated by heavy upstream inflows from neighboring regions—proved overwhelming. The erosion undermined the subsoil directly underneath the sanctum, rendering the sandbags futile as the riverbed collapsed beneath them. * Loss of Historic Heritage: The nearly 150-year-old temple served as a spiritual center for Muliram Tola and neighboring hamlets, leaving devotees grief-stricken as they watched their cherished place of worship submerge.

Growing Fears Across Riverside Settlements

The dramatic loss of the temple has intensified anxiety across riverside villages in Malda, where seasonal bank erosion continues to threaten homes and civic infrastructure. In surrounding hamlets such as Srikantatola and Jittutola, dozens of residential structures have already been claimed by the shifting course of the river, forcing displaced families to evacuate toward higher ground.

District administrative officials and the irrigation department are monitoring the vulnerable river stretch, working on emergency flood defense lines and alternative connectivity routes to prevent further land loss and safeguard threatened communities along the riverbank.