A farmer at Dhusaripara village in Murshidabad’s Samserganj collapsed and died moments after his parental home got washed away in Ganga’s riverbank erosion on Sunday night.

Eyewitnesses said Kishori Singh, 60, and his family had rushed out of home, along with some other families, with a few belongings when the latest riverbank erosion hit the village on Sunday night.

“We initially did not notice Kishori had collapsed as we were shocked at the sight of our homes being sucked into the Ganga,” said an eyewitness, adding that Kishori was rushed to the Samserganj block hospital by youths on a bike but was declared brought dead at 9pm.

On Monday, block medical officer (health) Arif Hossain said no post-mortem had been conducted but termed the circumstances of Kishori’s death “consistent with heart attack”.

The episode at Dhusaripara on Sunday night was the third major erosion to hit Samserganj since late August, when a BSF outpost in Dhanghora was wiped out. Most homes in Dhanghora have since been sucked into the river, sources said.

The second major erosion took place on September 1 at Hiranandapur village, claiming almost 50 homes.

Kishori is survived by his wife Kamala, 52, and their two adult sons, both married, who live in neighbouring Mangalpur village.

His relatives and neighbours said the home, which was seven decades old, had been built by Kishori’s father who wanted to live near the village temple.

“Its sentimental value was incalculable, because of which Kishori suffered the shock,” said a neighbour, adding that Kishori had added concrete reinforcements to the ancestral home.

Trinamul’s Samserganj MLA Amirul Islam said he had spoken to Kishori’s family and they were in shock.