Brahmaputra Boat Capsize: Schoolchildren Missing, Rescue Underway

Guwahati: A devastating accident unfolded in Assam’s Nalbari district on Thursday morning when a ferry carrying more than 100 passengers—many of them schoolchildren—capsized in the Brahmaputra River. The tragedy occurred while the boat was travelling from Peradhara ferry ghat to Larkuchi.

Witnesses said the boat abruptly malfunctioned midstream and then capsized. “It suddenly broke down and flipped over. Many kids are missing,” recounted a local resident who rushed to help.

Emergency response teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and district police, began immediate rescue efforts alongside villagers. However, by Thursday afternoon, authorities had yet to confirm how many were unaccounted for.

Senior district officials are overseeing operations, and a formal probe is underway to understand what led to the accident. Initial concerns point to possible overcrowding or lack of proper safety measures—issues that are all too familiar in Assam during the monsoon season.

Boat capsizing incidents are a recurring danger in the region, often due to aging vessels, overloading, or poor regulation. In response, the state has partnered with the World Bank under the Assam Inland Water Transport Project to upgrade its river transport systems.

This multi-tiered initiative includes improvements in safety and regulation, modernizing ferry fleets, and upgrading terminal infrastructure. Programs like the “Jibondinga” scheme also aim to replace older vessels with safer alternatives.

Rescue operations remain ongoing as families await news and officials work to assess the full scope of the disaster.

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