Nearly 250 personnel of the Army, NDFR, SDRF, river police and government officials are continuing with search and rescue operations to look out for possible survivors following the tragic boat accident in the middle of the Brahmaputra yesterday (Sep 5).
Search and rescue teams resumed operations in the morning, looking for the mechanized boat that had capsized after hitting the JICA water supply project construction site near the Ashwaklanta temple yesterday.
#FLASH | Search and rescue operations resume on the Brahmaputra near Ashwaklanta temple after yesterday's boat capsize, Army, NDRF, SDRF personnel engaged in operations; chopper also being used. Around 17 people are still missing after yesterday's tragic accident. pic.twitter.com/8iu8dZUSoK
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) September 6, 2018
A chopper was also used in the operation to look out for possible survivors with around 17 people still presumed to be missing.
While three persons, including two young college girls Ankita Baruah and Dimpi Bora, met with a watery grave, around 20 people were rescued out of the 35-40 people who were in the boat.
However, authorities have received the names of only two people — Kamal Das and Rahul Ali — who have been reported missing after the accident.
Meanwhile, people have blamed Inland Water Transport department officials for the mishap, accusing them of allowing the mechanized boats flout norms. People also entered into a war of words with the officials over timings of ferry service following the suspension of mechanized boat (bhut-bhuti) service after yesterday’s accident.
