Assam: Boat Capsizes in Dhubri, One Student Dead, Two Missing
A country-made boat carrying students overturned in Assam’s Dhubri district, killing one minor and leaving two others missing as rescue operations continue.
DHUBRI- A tragic boat accident in Assam’s Dhubri district has claimed the life of a minor student, while two others remain missing after a country-made boat capsized in the Gangadhar River on Tuesday night.
The incident occurred near Belpara Char under the Tamarhat area when a non-mechanised boat carrying 22 students overturned while returning to Shagunmari village after attending a funeral or community gathering across the river. According to officials and eyewitnesses, the boat suddenly lost balance midstream, throwing passengers into the water.
Local residents rushed to the site and managed to rescue 19 students. However, three minors were initially unaccounted for, triggering panic along the riverbank and prompting immediate search and rescue operations.
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Teams from the fire and emergency services, police, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed for the rescue effort. On Wednesday, authorities recovered the body of one of the missing students, identified as Sarmina Khatun, a resident of Shagunmari village. Variations of her name were reported by different sources.
The search for the remaining two students—identified as Sah Alam and Mofida—continued throughout Wednesday. Rescue operations were suspended at night due to poor visibility and challenging river conditions, officials said, and are scheduled to resume on Thursday morning.
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The incident has once again underscored the risks associated with river crossings in Assam’s char areas, where residents frequently rely on traditional boats that are often overcrowded and lack safety measures. Seasonal variations and unpredictable currents further compound these dangers, particularly during evening hours.
The tragedy follows a similar boat capsize in neighbouring Barpeta district earlier this week, where several people, including children, went missing in the Brahmaputra River, raising renewed concerns over river transport safety in the state.
Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution while using river transport and have reiterated warnings against overloading boats. District officials have assured assistance to the families of the victims as search efforts continue.
