Three, including 10-year-old boy, killed as boat capsizes in Assam: Police

Locals alleged that boats crossing the river often do not follow basic safety rules and that the incident highlighted the risks involved

Three people, including a 10-year-old boy, died after the country boat they were travelling in capsized in Assam’s Lakhimpur district on Sunday, police said.

Locals from Deolia Gaon said the boat suddenly capsized due to the strong current. (HT File Photo/Representational)

The incident occurred in the Merbil area at around 9.30 am. Locals told police that the three were crossing the Merbil River with a few goats on board the small country boat and heading towards a market when the boat capsized due to strong current.

According to police, the deceased have been identified as Ajit Dutta (25), Podma Dutta (50) and Midhusmi Dutta (10), all residents of Deolia Gaon under Ghilamara police station.

“The current was strong and they went missing, but they were recovered within an hour by locals and a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF),” police said, adding that the three people were taken to a nearby government hospital, where they were declared dead.

Midhusmi Dutta and Podma Dutta belonged to the same household, while all three deceased were relatives and residents of the same village.