Two men and a woman, members of a Durga Puja organising committee, dived into the Hooghly at Sovabazar Ghat on Wednesday to save a friend who had slipped into the river during immersion.

Members of the city police’s disaster management group rescued the four from the river.

The accident occurred around 4pm when a residential Durga Puja committee from Salt Lake had gone to the ghat to immerse their idol.

“One of the youths slipped and fell into the river. Three others who were part of the same group jumped in one after the other to save their friend,” a police officer said.

Members of the disaster management group who were on duty at the ghat jumped into the river and rescued them and averted what could possibly have turned into a major accident, the police said.

The city police’s immersion guidelines allow four-five members of a puja committee at a ghat for immersion.

The Salt Lake committee hadn’t violated the rule but they should have been more careful, keeping in mind the high tide, the police said.