JORHAT, India — Himanta Biswa Sharma, the Chief Minister of the northeastern Indian state, Assam, on the morning of Sept. 9, reached the Nimati Ghat in Jorhat to oversee the rescue operations after a boat tragedy that led to the death of at least one person.
Rescue operations continue in the Jorhat district of Assam, where the boat got capsized in the Brahmaputra River after a collision with another boat on Sept. 8.
The Brahmaputra River is the ninth largest river in the world by discharge and the fifteenth longest.
“Rescue operation going on in Majuli. As of now, one death and two are missing. Efforts are on to find out more information,” Sharma tweeted.
National Disaster Response Force teams from Sivasagar (a district in Assam) are carrying out the rescue operations at Nimati Ghat in Jorhat, where the incident occurred.
“Our teams reached Nimati Ghat after receiving information about the capsizing of a boat after collision with the other boat,” said Patras Gudiya, a National Disaster Response Force personnel.
Sad News: Two boats collided and capsized in #Brahmaputra near Majuli, Assam.
100+ people reported missing.
pic.twitter.com/ANpxBfxHOw— AIUWC (@aiuwcindia) September 8, 2021
He said 70 people were on the boat that capsized.
“Three people were injured, out of which a woman from Guwahati has died,” said Gudiya.
“We carried out an operation for a whole night and will start with a physical search from 6 AM Indian Standard Time.”
Of the two boats, one was a government passenger ferry of the Inland Water Transport department, coming from Majuli (a river island district in Assam) to Nimati Ghat with around 120 passengers on board while the other boat was going in the opposite direction.
Gudiya said upon cutting the boat which capsized, National Disaster Response Force found two purses, a carry bag, and two helmets. No bodies were found.
“Till now, the exact number of people which are missing is not known,” Gudiya said.
As per the National Disaster Response Force, the two boats were ferrying around 120 passengers. Many of them are still missing.
“02 teams of @NDRF (01 from #12NDRF and 01 from #1NDRF) conducting #SearchAndRescue operation in #Brahmaputrariver at #Boatmishap site Nimati Ghat, #Jorhat #Assam, 02 teams of #12NDRF on the way to #incident site and about to reach,” said a division of the National Disaster Response Force in a tweet.
Earlier on Sept. 8, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi also telephoned the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to enquire about the boat accident near Nimati Ghat in Jorhat.
“Saddened by the boat accident in Assam,” said Modi.
“All possible efforts are being made to rescue the passengers. I pray for everyone’s safety and well-being.”
“Adarniya Pradhan Mantri (Respected Prime Minister) Sri @narendramodi telephoned me to enquire about the progress of rescue operations at Nimati Ghat and conditions of those with injuries,” said Sharma.
“I apprised Honorable Prime Minister with all the details. Also informed that all of us are minutely monitoring the ground situation.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inquired about the incident and offered all possible help for the rescue.
“I am anguished to learn about the tragic boat accident in Assam,” tweeted Shah.
“Have spoken to CM Shri @himantabiswa, the state administration is doing everything possible to rescue the people. We are continuously monitoring the situation. Also assured full support from the central government.”
Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India, also showed his deep concerns about the incident.
“Deeply pained to hear about the loss of lives in a boat accident in Jorhat, Assam,” he said.
Kovind said his thoughts go out to the victims, survivors, and their families, and the rescue and relief efforts are on to save as many lives as possible.
Around 42 people, including a baby, have been rescued till now, from which many have been sent to hospitals.
(With inputs from ANI)
Edited by Saptak Datta and Ritaban Misra
The post Anguish In Indian Boat Tragedy: Survivors, Wail Caught On Tape appeared first on Zenger News.
