Overcrowded boat capsizes in Nalbari: Two school children among missing, rescue halted at nightfall

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 19, 2025

A tragic boat accident in Nalbari district has left at least three people missing, including two schoolchildren after a single-engine passenger boat capsized in the Brahmaputra near Peradhara char (sandbar) on Thursday.

The incident occurred at around 7.45 am while the boat was ferrying passengers from Nadia Char to Larkuchi Paradhra Parghat under Barkhetri Revenue Circle of Nalbari district. Eyewitnesses say the boat was overcrowded, carrying over 50 people, and lacked basic safety equipment such as life jackets.

The vessel overturned mid-channel, throwing passengers into the river and sparking chaos. While three individuals were rescued alive, search efforts are ongoing for the remaining missing, including a 50-year-old man.

Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were quickly deployed to the scene. However, no bodies have been recovered as of this report. “Rescue operations will be paused due to darkness and resume at first light,” confirmed NDRF Inspector Brahmadev Yadav.

Despite conflicting accounts, local residents claim more than six people may be missing. Officials, however, have confirmed three missing persons based on current reports. “Exact numbers can only be verified once the rescue operation concludes,” said a senior Nalbari district official.

The incident has sparked criticism over lax safety enforcement on Assam’s inland waterways. Muslim Students Union of Assam (MSUA) president Jalal Uddin condemned the negligence, stating: “Boats continue to operate without life jackets, with unchecked overcrowding. We’ve seen this pattern in previous tragedies. There must be immediate action, proper compensation, and a complete overhaul of river transport safety protocols.”

The MSUA has also urged uninterrupted rescue efforts by SDRF and Nalbari police, demanding that accountability not be delayed until another tragedy occurs.