Aarkatipur: An hours-long high-voltage situation unfolded at Bajar Tilla in Aarkatipur on Saturday evening after a man climbed atop a water tank tower armed with a machete, triggering panic among local residents.

The man, identified as Swapan Sarkar, reportedly threatened anyone who tried to approach him, making it difficult for rescue teams to act. Personnel from SDRF and NDRF were present at the scene, but were unable to climb the structure due to safety concerns.

The tense situation was finally brought under control when Sarkar’s nephew took the risk of climbing the tower. Wearing a helmet, he managed to calm Sarkar down and persuaded him to drop the machete before safely bringing him down.

Family members claimed that Sarkar has a history of mental instability and often goes missing, with past incidents of him being found sleeping in jungles or walking along bridge railings, endangering his life.

However, Sarkar alleged that he was being tortured by his family and denied basic necessities like food.Following the rescue, he was taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Authorities are expected to investigate the matter further.