Four school students and a woman with her minor son had a close shave when they were stuck in a river during a flash flood in Alipurduar district on Thursday evening.

Local people jumped into the river and rescued them.

All of them are residents of Joybirpara tea estate which is around 65km from here.

Sources said the students of Mahabir Hindi High School and Fatema High School in Birpara were returning home when they were caught up in the Dimdima. At the same time, a woman with her five-year-old son was also on her way to the tea estate.

While they were crossing the river that flows from the Bhutan hills, the Dimdima suddenly rose.

“The river didn't have much water when they started crossing the Dimdima. Suddenly, a flash flood occurred and the water level rose, leaving all the six stuck in the water. Some local people who were on the riverbank jumped into the swollen river and fortunately, all of them were rescued,” said Tempu Oraon, a member of Joybirpara panchayat.

The students and the woman with her son were struggling to maintain balance in the swollen river around 100 metres from the bank, he added.

After the rescue, Asha Mangar, one of the students, couldn't bear the strain and fell unconscious. She later came to.

The river's course is between the Nangdala and Joybirpara tea estates.

A few days ago, the head of the Madarihat panchayat samiti and her driver were stuck in another river because of a flash flood. They were on their way to Totopara when their vehicle was stuck in the water. They somehow clung to a tree and were rescued after the water receded.

Senior officials of the state irrigation department have said flash floods are common during the monsoon in streams and rivers which originate from the Bhutan hills.

“A huge amount of water descends downstream fast because of heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas. Those who cross rivers and streams should be alert,” said an official.