Williamnagar/Baghmara, April 18: A day of revelry turned tragic for three families after three separate cases of drowning surfaced in East and South Garo Hills districts.
While the first two incidents occurred in the EGH, the third took place at the Aginma Fish Sanctuary near Emangre under SGH.
To celebrate Easter Monday, thousands of revellers thronged various watering holes in parts of the region for a day of fun and frolic as well as families getting together.
In the first case, 16-year-old Niksrap Sangma, a resident of Gondenggre under Jengjal in West Garo Hills had visited the Simsang beach near Rongkem with friends when he apparently went for a swim in the river. However when he could not be found, an alarm was sounded leading to emergency personnel quickly arriving to help locate the missing teenager. Despite all efforts the victim could not be located.
Various emergency personnel including Fire & Emergency Service, police personnel as well as locals have continued the search for the missing boy but till the time of reporting, he was yet to be found. Rescue efforts will continue on Tuesday, said East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, Bruno A Sangma.
In the second incident, one Senja D Shira, aged between 25-30 years from Chitukona, Damas, North Garo Hills, drowned at the Chichra/Manda river. The district police received information at around 2 pm and rushed to the spot only to find the body.
As per the eyewitnesses the victim dived into the water and did not surface.
In the third incident, John Cliszter Marak (18) of Eringre village went missing while taking a dip in the Aginma Fish Sanctuary at about 3 pm on Monday.
“We have received a missing report on the matter but the body is yet to be recovered from the place of the incident. A search for the missing person is still ongoing and will continue tomorrow,” informed South Garo Hills police chief, Rithuraj Ravi.
Incessant rains across Garo Hills has led to most rivers of the region being in spate making them dangerous for those not experts in swimming.
