GUWAHATI: At least three persons including two girl students were killed and about 28 passengers went missing after a motorboat met with an accident on Brahmaputra River near Ashwaklanta Temple in North Guwahati near here on Wednesday afternoon.
Personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) launched prompt operation to rescue those went missing in the mighty river.
Kamrup district Deputy Commissioner, Kamala Baishya informed that deceased were identified as Ankita Barua, Dimpi Das and Kamal Das. Both Ankita and Dimpi were Higher Secondary students of Cotton University. Dimpi Das was recovered unconscious and died on way to GNRC Hospital.
The official said though only 22 passengers had bought ticket to travel on the motorboat from Guwahati city to North Guwahati, while there were about 42 passengers on the boat besides seven motorcycles.
The official said at least 12 passengers were rescued to safety while the administration has sought assistance from the Army.
The boat broke into two pieces and got drowned after hitting a pillar of a water supply scheme of JAICA while it was about 200 meter away from its destination at the north bank of the river. Sources informed that the engine of the boat got immobilized suddenly and remained afloat for some moments before hitting the pillar.
There were school and college students and women among the passengers. The district administration has set up two helplines –0361-2733052 and 0361-2684407.