The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has joined ongoing rescue operations to trace six people missing after a country boat capsized in the Brahmaputra River in Assam’s Barpeta district, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on Monday evening when a motorised country boat, carrying several passengers, was travelling from Rahampur to Borghul Char. The vessel reportedly lost balance after encountering strong river currents and a whirlpool, leading to it capsizing midstream.
According to officials, while several passengers managed to swim to safety or were rescued by nearby boats, six persons—including four children—went missing. The missing have been identified as Madhu Mia (60), Sukurjan Nesa (45), Amina Parbin (8), Rahul Amin (7), Aryan Islam (4), and Junufa Yasmin (5).
Rescue operations, which entered their second day on Tuesday, are being jointly carried out by the NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, district administration, and volunteers. Boats equipped with divers and search equipment have been deployed to comb the accident site and downstream areas.
An official involved in the operation said that strong currents and poor visibility were hampering rescue efforts. “We are making all possible efforts to locate the missing persons. The NDRF’s expertise is expected to strengthen the search,” the official added.
Preliminary reports suggest that the boat was operating without adequate safety measures, and most passengers were not wearing life jackets, raising concerns over river transport safety in the region.
Riverine accidents are common in Assam, particularly during winter and monsoon months, when residents of char (riverine island) areas heavily depend on small boats for daily travel. Authorities have reiterated the need for strict enforcement of safety norms to prevent such tragedies.
Further details are awaited as the search operation continues.
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