Boat carrying flood-affected people capsizes in Assam; three children missing
The Hindu
Three children missing from a group of 24 flood-affected villagers when the boat carrying them capsized on late June 17
A boat carrying flood-affected people has capsized in Assam's Hojai district, leaving three children missing while 21 others have been rescued, officials said on June 18.
A group of 24 villagers were moving to safety from inundated Islampur village late on June 17 night when the boat hit submerged a brick kiln and capsized in Raikota area, they said.
"Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued 21 people, while search operations are underway to trace the three missing children," Hojai Deputy Commissioner Anupam Choudhury told PTI.
He urged people not to take a risk and venture out in the dark in inundated areas.
"If people want to move to safer places, they should contact the district administration. We will evacuate them in NDRF and SDRF boats," he said.
Kopili River has inundated vast tracts of land and affected over 55,150 people in the district, which was also severely affected in the first wave of floods earlier this year.