SHILLONG: Four tourists from Jharkhand had a close shave in Umngot river in Dawki after their boat had capsized, but timely intervention by a few brave local boys saved the life of four tourists.
The mishap occurred on Wednesday at around 11 AM when four tourists including two women- Gumarti (45), Bala Subramani (48), Bal Subramani and Gurmeet Subramani — hailing from Jharkhand visited Dawki and there they decided to take a boat ride at Umngot river.
However, ten minutes after getting on the boat, the boat capsized in the middle of the river and all four tourist including the boatman fell into the river but luckily, all of them were wearing Life Jackets as it has been made compulsory for people to wear life jackets while taking a boat ride on the river.
In the meantime, five
local boys identified as Meaiki Pohti, Gines Bareh, Ibaneshskhem, Lorshai Pynrope and Benis Suchiang put risked their lives and jumped into the river to rescued the drowning tourists and the boatman.
The Sub Divisional Police officer (SDPO) of Amlarem Sub Division, Jason Mairom, who was present in Dawki met the four tourist who informed him that it the five brave boys had pulled them snatched them from the jaws of death.
The tourists said that though they were wearing life jackets, the current was so strong that it was pulling them down, but thanks to the timely intervention of the local boys, their lives were saved.
The SDPO Amlarem along with officers of Dawki Police Station, S Pariat and Sub Inspector, A Laloo met the five boys and appreciated their act of bravery in rescuing the four tourists.
The SDPO also appreciated the Dawki Boating Association who are following the directives issued by the police for making life jackets compulsory for all tourist taking boat rides in Umngot river.
In January this year, an 18-year-old girl from Rilbong, Trisha Sen Bhattacharjee, drowned after the newly introduced bamboo raft with seven occupants, including her mother, capsized in Krang Shuri river in Amlarem, West Jaintia Hills.
Soon after the incident, all the six were immediately pulled out, but Trisha who was under the water was taken out only after five minutes after immediate attempts to rescue her failed.