Over 200 still missing

Guwahati: Over 200 passengers of the ill-fated motor-boat, Panchabhai (AS 323), that capsized in Brahmaputra River in Assam’s Dhubri district on Monday evening have still remained untraced while 40 bodies have been recovered by locals as well as the rescue teams of the BSF and the NDRF since Monday night.

So far about 100 people of one of the country’s worst boat tragedies were rescued.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi informed the media here that about 40 bodies recovered even as rescue teams were fighting inclement weather and very strong current of the river in carrying out the operation. He said the toll was likely to rise.

Gogoi said Government of India was in touch with Bangladesh government for recovery of bodies that might have swept towards the neighbouring country.

Meanwhile, the BSF has alerted Border Out Posts (BOPs) along with the riverine stretch of Brahmaputra river to look for the survivors and search for the dead bodies.

BSF is also in contact with the Border Guard, Bangladesh (BGB) and requested the latter to sensitize their riverine BOPs for carrying out search for survivors and look for the dead bodies.The Assam Police headquarter here informed that 17 bodies were with the police. It was informed that about 100 persons were either rescued or swam to safety. The owner of the ill-fated boat , one Syed Ali, Bepari is absconding.

A senior BSF official at the frontier headquarter here informed that 40-45 bodies were recovered so far including those recovered by locals last night as per the information gathered by the BSF men talking to locals there.

An official source informed that 380 tickets were sold at the ghat to the passengers of the ill-fated boat. Besides, there were children who did not require any ticket to travel.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the next of kin of those killed while Assam government has also announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh against per deceased. The state government will provide Rs 50,000 to each of the seriously injured.

Meanwhile, the Assam government has constituted a one-man inquiry committee to look into the tragedy.

The inquiry will be conducted by Additional Chief Secretary of Assam Jitesh Khosla, who has been asked to submit his report within 30 days, an official statement said.

The committee will ascertain facts and circumstances leading to the mishap and related issues like the condition of the ferry and whether any overloading took place.

It will also determine if there was any lapse on the part of any authority, including violation of rules or licence condition for operation of ferry service.

Our New Delhi Correspondent adds: Both the Union Ministers from Meghalaya- -Viencent H Pala and Ms Agatha Sangma — on Tuesday expressed shock over the boat tragedy. Both the Ministers assured all possible help to the state Government.