Three dead, including a 10-year-old, after boat capsizes in Assam
A small country boat overturned on the Merbil River in Lakhimpur district, killing three people - a 10-year-old boy and two adults - who were later pronounced dead at a local health centre.
Around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, a country boat carrying three passengers and a few goats capsized on the Merbil River in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, driven by a strong current. The three victims - Ajit Dutta, 25; Podma Dutta, 50; and Midhusmi Dutta, 10 - were rescued unconscious by locals and the State Disaster Response Force within an hour and taken to Ghilamara Block Primary Health Centre, where a doctor declared them dead on arrival.
Police confirmed the victims were from Deolia Gaon and had no swimming ability. The senior superintendent of police, Gunendra Deka, said a legal inquest will be conducted and the bodies sent to Lakhimpur Medical College for post-mortem examinations. Officials are investigating boat safety compliance, after locals complained that small vessels often exceed capacity and lack proper monitoring. The incident underscores ongoing risks associated with informal river transport in the region.
Why it matters
The tragedy highlights safety gaps in local river transport, prompting calls for stricter regulation.
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