📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Barry Loigman, M.D. (User:Bloigman)
Local
Three dead as boat capsizes in Merbil, Ghilmara, Assam
✍️ India Today NE
🗓 04 Oct 2026, 05:35 PM
👁 11
A boat carrying passengers capsized at Merbil in Ghilmara, Assam, killing three people, officials said.
A passenger boat overturned at Merbil, a locality in the Ghilmara area of Assam, resulting in three fatalities, local authorities reported. Rescue teams were dispatched promptly, but the swift current and low visibility hampered recovery efforts. The victims, whose identities have not been released, were among several passengers on board at the time of the accident.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the boat may have been overloaded and that sudden turbulence in the river contributed to the capsizing. Police have opened a case to ascertain the exact cause and to determine any negligence on the part of the operator.
The incident has prompted local officials to call for stricter enforcement of safety norms for river transport, especially during the monsoon season when water levels rise rapidly. Families of the deceased have been informed, and compensation measures are being discussed.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority has urged residents to avoid non-essential river travel until safety checks are completed. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the boat may have been overloaded and that sudden turbulence in the river contributed to the capsizing. Police have opened a case to ascertain the exact cause and to determine any negligence on the part of the operator.
The incident has prompted local officials to call for stricter enforcement of safety norms for river transport, especially during the monsoon season when water levels rise rapidly. Families of the deceased have been informed, and compensation measures are being discussed.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority has urged residents to avoid non-essential river travel until safety checks are completed. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.