Assam Boat Tragedy: Six People Missing for Over 24 Hours After Brahmaputra River Capsizing
In a distressing development from Assam, more than twenty-four hours have elapsed since six individuals went missing after a mechanised country boat capsized in the mighty Brahmaputra river. The incident occurred in the Barpeta district on Wednesday, and despite intensive efforts, rescue teams have yet to locate the missing persons.
Rescue Operations Intensify with NDRF Involvement
The search operation has been significantly bolstered with the arrival of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, who have joined local authorities in the desperate hunt for the missing. Multiple agencies are coordinating their efforts, with divers working continuously and experts deploying all available resources to trace the victims. However, as of this evening, the search has remained unsuccessful, adding to the anguish of the situation.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The mechanised country boat was carrying a total of thirty-four people when it set out from Rahampur towards the riverine area of Borghol on Tuesday noon. Officials have indicated that the boat capsized due to overloading, a factor that has tragically led to this disaster. Of the thirty-four passengers, twenty-eight managed to either swim to safety or were rescued by teams with the assistance of local civilians, highlighting the community's swift response in the face of crisis.
Identities of the Missing Individuals
Barpeta revenue circle field officer Jyotirmoy Choudhury has provided the identities of the six missing persons, which include:
- Madhu Mia, aged 60
- Sukurjan Nesa, aged 45
- Amina Parbin, aged 8
- Rahul Amin, aged 7
- Aryan Islam, aged 4
- Junufa Yasmin, aged 5
The presence of young children among the missing has heightened concerns and urgency in the rescue operations. Choudhury emphasized that the search resumed this morning with renewed vigor, but the challenging conditions of the Brahmaputra have so far thwarted efforts to find them.
As the hours tick by, the focus remains on locating the missing individuals and providing support to their families. The incident underscores the critical need for stricter safety measures on river transport in Assam to prevent such tragedies in the future.
