GUWAHATI/ TURA: At least 10 persons including women and children were killed when at least two boats capsized on being caught in a storm on Sabang river in Goalpara district of Assam bordering West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya on Sunday evening. Three persons were reported missing while a team of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from Assam was conducting a search operation in the wet land.
Police said the boats were carrying people home who had gone to enjoy a boat race on Jinjiram River at Nidhanpur in West Garo Hills of Meghalaya. Five persons a family and three persons of another family died in the mishap along with two other persons.
The deceased were identified as Amjad Ali (55), Abdul Karim (32), Mukkaddar Alom (10) Jeleka Khatun (41), Sumaya Yasmin (7), Rohima Begum (40), Sultana Yasmin (6) Selima Yasmin (10) belonging to village Pamerbela and Sorif Ali (8) and Masuma Begum (18) from Katlamari village.
West Garo Hills police have ordered an enquiry into the event given that the organiser of the boat race, an elected Member of Garo Hills autonomous District Council (GHADC) representing Naguapara constituency, Dhormonath Sangma, did not seek permission from the district authorities for holding the boat race on Jinjiram river in Meghalaya which connects with the Sabang river in Assam. The Rs-20,000 prize money boat race was organised from Nidhanpur in Tikrikilla region of West Garo Hills.
A source in West Garo Hills district authorities informed that the final round of the boat race was cancelled after a sudden storm hit the area and people were returning home on several boats when the mishap occurred.
As the boats were heading out during the thunderstorm tragedy struck and three boats capsized at two places, namely Kholishabita and Pamerbala in Assam.
While many were able to swim to safety ten people, including five children drowned. The victims hailed from Katlamari and Pamerbela villages of Goalpara district in Assam.
West Garo Hills Superintendent of police, M G R Kumar who ordered a police enquiry into the boat race has clarified that the incident took place in Assam while people were returning home following the cancellation of the final round of the boat race.
“We have ordered an inquiry to be headed by Dadenggre Sub-Divisional Police Officer Jeffrey Lyngdoh since the organisers of the boat race did not take any permission,” informed district SP Dr MGR Kumar.
People who went to witness the event have also complained that no security measures were put in place by the organisers. Assam police have also registered a case of unnatural death at Lakhipur police station of Goalpara following the incident.
The organiser of the boat race, MDC Dhormonath Sangma could not be reached for his comment.