GUWAHATI: Four-year-old minor boy died and two others were missing after a single-engine boat capsized in the Brahmaputra in Assam’s South Salmara-Mankachar district bordering Bangladesh on Sunday evening.
Of the two missing persons, there is also an eight-year-old child.
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The incident was reported during a hail storm, which struck the district at 5.20 PM on Sunday.
The deceased child has been identified as Samin Mondal (4) son of Zahangir Mondal.
Two missing persons have been identified as Kobat Ali Mondal (56) son of Siraj Ali Mondal and Ismail Ali (8) son of Nazrul Islam.
“The boat was ferrying eight passengers which had both women and children near Nepurer Alga while proceeding towards Nepurer Alga from Hatsingimari. Six persons were able to save their lives and two persons are missing and yet to be recovered,” said an official of district administration.
“Soon after the incident, a search operation was launched by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in search of missing persons,” the official said.
“The boat suddenly overturned due to strong wind. People had come to the Sunday market and were returning to their destination. The body of the child was found early today,” the official said.
The search operation is still on with the support of the local fishermen.
An official of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASADMA) said: “1st Bn NDRF team from Guwahati are carrying out a search operation in the site. We have deployed drones and pilots for Ariel surveillance.”
According to the latest IMD bulletin, a cyclonic circulation lies over northeast Assam, under which light to moderate rainfall is likely over the state between April 1 and April 4. The state has been predicted to experience isolated heavy rainfall on Monday.
