Jorhat (Assam): Rescue operations continue in Jorhat district of Assam where a boat capsized in the Brahmaputra River after a collision with another boat on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, a boat carrying over 120 passengers collided with a ferry steamer and sank in the Brahmaputra river near Nimati Ghat in the Jorhat district. The accident occurred when the private boat ‘Ma Kamala’ was headed to Majuli from Nimati Ghat and ferry ‘Tripkai’, operated by the state’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department, was coming from the riverine island.
More than 120 passengers were on board but many of them were rescued by lifeguards on ‘Tripkai’.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Sivasagar are carrying out the rescue operations at Nimati Ghat in Jorhat where the incident occurred yesterday and soon and the Indian Army will join the NDRF teams.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Sivasagar are carrying out the rescue operations at Nimati Ghat | ANI
"Our teams reached Nimati Ghat after receiving information about the capsizing of a boat after collision with the other boat. 70 people were on the boat that capsized. Three people were injured out of which a woman from Guwahati has died. We carried out an operation for a whole night and will start over once again with a physical search from 6 AM," said Patras Gudiya, an NDRF personnel.
Gudiya said that upon cutting the boat which capsized, NDRF found two purses, a carry bag and 2 helmets. No bodies were found.
We carried out an operation for a whole night and will start over once again with a physical search from 6 AM," said Patras Gudiya, an NDRF personnel | ANI
"Till now, the exact number of people which are missing is not known," Gudiya added.
The two boats were ferrying around 120 passengers and many of them are still missing, according to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will visit the place of an accident on Thursday, where at least one person died, 82 people have survived the tragedy.
The two boats were ferrying around 120 passengers and many of them are still missing, according to the NDRF | ANI
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also telephoned the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to enquire about the boat accident near Nimati Ghat in Jorhat.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also enquired about the incident and offered all possible help for the rescue.
