GUWAHATI
Three persons, including two schoolchildren, were reported missing after the motorised boat they were on partially sank in western Assam’s Nalbari district on Thursday (June 19, 2025) morning.
The boat from the Peradhara Ferry Ghat to Larkuchi met with an accident in a tributary of the Brahmaputra. It was carrying more than 100 passengers, mostly children going to school.
The three reported missing are Abdul Gafur, 50; Aryan Ali, a Class 3 student; and Majidul Islam, Class 9 student.
Nalbari District Commissioner Nibedan Das Patowary said six divers of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force are engaged in the search and rescue operation.
Others swim to safety
“The roof of the boat collapsed, leading to the incident. Three people are reported missing while the others on board swam ashore,” he said.
Mr. Patowary said the Inland Water Transport (IWT) lodged a first information report against the boat operator, who was found to have violated the law by using a non-marine engine.
Following a similar accident on the Brahmaputra in eastern Assam’s Jorhat district in 2021, the IWT had directed all private boats to replace their single engines with marine engines. One person was killed in that accident.
Published – June 19, 2025 09:52 pm IST