Forty people have been rescued after a passenger boat sank in the Brahmaputra river after colliding with another boat near Nimati Ghat in Assam’s Jorhat, district officials said.
According to Jorhat Additional DC Damodar Bar-man, there were at least 50 people on board the boat which sank. The two boats were travelling in oppo-site directions at the time of the incident.
“Boat accident in Brahmputra river, Assam: There were around 50 people in the boat who met with the accident, out of which 40 people have been res-cued,” said Jorhat Additional DC Damodar Barman. He added that the rescue teams are on the spot to launch operations.
“Two boats carrying approximately 120 passengers collided in the Brahmaputra river in Jorhat today, many passengers missing; rescue operation under-way,” DG NDRF Satya N Pradhan tweeted.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he has directed Majuli and Jorhat administrations to under-take rescue mission expeditiously with help of NDRF and SDRF.
“I am pained at the tragic boat accident near Nimati Ghat, Jorhat. Directed Majuli & Jorhat admin to undertake rescue mission expeditiously with help of @NDRFHQ& SDRF. Advising Min @BimalBorahbjp to immediately rush to the acci-dent site. I’ll also visit Nimati Ghat tomorrow” Sarma said. Home Minister Amit Shah also enquired about the incident and offered all possible help for the rescue.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal expressed anguish over the accident in Majuli. He directed the ministry to pro-vide all necessary suppor—AFP
