A major accident occurred when two boats collided in the Brahmaputra river in Jorhat district of Assam. A total of 120 passengers were on the ferry, 50 people have been rescued in this accident, 69 are still missing while one has died. Both the boats were coming from different directions. Assam State Disaster Management Authority says that the rescue operation of NDRF, SDRF is going on.
After this accident, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Shipping, Ports and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal have expressed deep grief. Modi and Shah spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He took full update of the boat accident and assured all possible help. Expressing grief over the Assam boat accident, Prime Minister Modi said, ‘Every effort is being made to save the people, wishing everyone safe.’
The accident happened when the private boat ‘Ma Kamala’ was on its way from Nematighat to Kamalabari Ferry Point in Majuli Island, while the ferry ‘Tripkai’ operated by the State Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department was going towards Neemtighat.
A police officer told the media, “We have rescued around 40 people on board the boat and from different places on the ship. However, till late evening, around 35 people are missing.” He said the search for the missing people is on. About 30 two-wheelers in the boat went under water.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who expressed shock and concern over the boat accident, directed the administration of Majuli and Jorhat to expedite the rescue operation with the help of NDRF and SDRF. The Chief Minister will visit Nematighat. He also directed Power Minister Bimal Bora to immediately visit the site of the incident to take stock of the situation. He asked his Principal Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha to monitor the developments round the clock.