Digha Sea Accident: 14-Year-Old Girl Missing After Ignoring Swimming Ban During Deep Depression

The Digha Sea Accident: What Happened on 24 September 2026

On 24 September 2026, a tragic incident occurred at Digha beach when a 14-year-old girl, identified as Kashmira Khatoon (also reported as Asmira Khatoon), went missing after being swept away by powerful waves. The girl, a resident of Naihati in North 24 Parganas, had visited the tourist destination with her parents and sister. According to reports, the family entered the water at a secluded area near the Digha Hospital and Jagannath Ghat, bypassing police surveillance [1] [2].

Weather Conditions and the Administrative Ban

The accident took place during a period of extreme meteorological instability. The weather department reported that a deep depression entered the Andhra Pradesh coast on the night of 23 September, leading to turbulent seas and stormy weather along the West Bengal coast through 25 September [1]. Because of these dangerous conditions, the local administration had issued a formal ban on swimming and deployed police with microphones to warn tourists against entering the water.

Despite these warnings, witnesses claim the family entered the sea because the waves appeared to have temporarily subsided. However, a massive wave quickly pulled the teenager under, leaving her missing in the rough waters. This highlights the extreme danger of 'temporary' calms during a deep depression, where unpredictable surges can occur without warning.

Search Operations and Challenges

Following the incident, the local administration launched an immediate search operation using speedboats. However, the rescue efforts were severely hindered by the ongoing stormy weather and the violent state of the sea [2]. As of 25 September 2026, officials reported that no trace of the girl had been found.

Context of Beach Safety in West Bengal

This event is not an isolated case of ignoring safety protocols. A similar tragedy recently occurred at Mandarmani, where three members of a single family from Nadia drowned, including a child [1]. These recurring incidents underscore the critical importance of adhering to administrative bans during weather alerts. Tourists are advised to check the latest forecasts for heavy rain (ভারী বৃষ্টি) and sea conditions (আগামীকালের আবহাওয়া) before visiting coastal areas like দীঘা during the monsoon or depression seasons.

Detail	Information
Date of Incident	24 September 2026
Victim	14-year-old girl from Naihati
Location	Jagannath Ghat / Digha Hospital area
Weather Trigger	Deep depression entering Andhra Pradesh coast
Search Status	Ongoing (as of 25 Sept 2026)