One dead following boat capsizing in Assam, India

One person was killed after a boat ferrying passengers capsized and sank in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam on Thursday, September 29.

The unnamed boat was underway on the Brahmaputra River in Assam’s Dhubri district when it struck a bridge pillar at around 10:30 local time on Thursday, causing it to overturn within minutes.

Eyewitnesses said the boat appeared to be manoeuvring out of control just moments before it hit the pillar.

Search and rescue (SAR) teams were able to bring 28 people to safety shortly after the capsizing. Some of the survivors suffered minor injuries and have since been brought to hospital.

The SAR effort led to the recovery of the body of the lone fatality on the morning of Sunday, October 2.

A local police official said the deceased individual was found approximately 1,000 metres downstream from where the boat had capsized.

An investigation is being conducted to identify the events that led to the mishap.