B
aby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata | August 11, 2025 : In a concerning incident that underscores the growing challenges of crowd management and inadequate infrastructure around the increasingly popular Barama Temple in Naihati, a private vehicle was swept into the Ganga river on Sunday due to a sudden tidal surge. The event has once again brought public attention to recurring safety lapses and the urgent need for regulated parking near the Naihati ferry ghat.
The incident occurred early Monday morning when a family visiting the Barama Temple—a site that has become a major spiritual and cultural hub—parked their four-wheeler near the Naihati ferry ghat. Despite multiple prior warnings issued by the local police and civic authorities advising against parking near the riverbank, the vehicle was left in an unauthorized area prone to flooding. With the Ganga already swollen due to persistent rains, a high tide led to the sudden submergence of the car, which was dragged partially underwater by the strong current.
Fortunately, no individuals were inside the vehicle at the time, preventing any casualties or injuries. However, the visuals of the car being engulfed by the river shocked local residents and rapidly went viral across social media platforms, sparking public outrage and renewed debates on administrative inaction. In the viral video, over half of the vehicle can be seen submerged as concerned onlookers attempt to assist in its retrieval.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the vehicle belonged to a family from outside the city who had arrived to offer prayers at the renowned Barama Temple, also known as “Naihati’s Boro Maa.” According to accounts, the car had been parked at the ferry ghat—a practice that, while increasingly common, has been officially prohibited due to the risk of flooding. Local police from Naihati Police Station, with the help of residents, managed to retrieve the vehicle after an extended operation.
The Barama Temple has been drawing enormous crowds since its recent redevelopment and inauguration by political leader Abhishek Banerjee. Devotees travel from across the region to offer prayers to Barama, whom followers revere as a deity that fulfills heartfelt wishes. With its rising prominence, the temple now witnesses thousands of visitors daily. However, the supporting infrastructure has not kept pace with this surge in footfall.
Access roads from Naihati railway station to the temple remain heavily congested, and the absence of designated parking zones around the ferry terminal is increasingly causing chaos. Locals say that cars are often seen lined up illegally along the riverbank, despite repeated directives from the administration. Past incidents of cars being swept away at this very location have occurred, yet enforcement has remained inconsistent.
This latest episode has sparked criticism not only of individual negligence but also of the authorities’ failure to implement permanent solutions. “Had the illegal parking zone been shut down earlier, this wouldn’t have happened again,” remarked a local resident. Others have pointed fingers at the administration for ignoring long-standing calls to regulate parking and ensure public safety at the ghat.
In response, the local administration has acknowledged the urgency of the situation and stated that steps will soon be taken to address parking inadequacies and prevent such mishaps in the future. However, public confidence remains fragile as similar assurances in the past have failed to materialize into concrete action.
As Naihati’s Barama Temple continues to rise in prominence, the need for coordinated planning, strict enforcement of safety measures, and proper crowd management infrastructure has become more pressing than ever. Sunday’s incident serves as yet another wake-up call—highlighting the delicate balance between heritage tourism and public safety.
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