On September 8, 2021, two boats collided with each other in the river of Brahmaputra. This happened in Assam’s Jorhat. After this incident, several people have been missing. Sources say that there were at least a hundred passengers on board the boats. This was when they crashed into each other at Nimati Ghat in Jorhat which is around 350 kilometers away from Guwahati.
One of the boats was a government passenger ferry of the Inland Water Transport department. It was coming from Majuli which is a river island district in Assam to Nimati Ghat. The other boat was going in the opposite direction.
Reporters shat a lot of videos of the accident. They showed that the boats capsized after the collision. Some of the passengers tried to hold on to the boat. The rest of the passengers jumped into the river itself to save themselves. The luggage of the passengers along with the bikes and cars that were on board the boats were washed away in the river. It was after they fell into the water due to the collision.
Soon after the incident occurred, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma looked into the matter. He said that the district administration of Majuli and Jorhat districts were to carry out the rescue missions. The NDRF and SDRF would help them. Following this, the SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) officials reached the spot and started the rescue operations. They could rescue around 30 people among which one was a baby. They even sent many of the people to hospitals. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)team with divers was also rushed to the site of the accident.
The Chief Minister added that the Home Minister Amit Shah had called to enquire about the incident and promised all possible help. He further tweeted, “I am pained at the tragic boat accident near Nimati Ghat, Jorhat. HM Sri Amit Shah had kindly called to enquire about the accident in Nimati Ghat and took an update on the rescue operations and conditions of those rescued so far. He said that the Central Government is ready to lend all possible help. Grateful to him.”
The Chief Minister even directed the state minister Bimal Bora to travel immediately to Majuli and take a look at the situation. He also asked the principal secretary and Samir Kumar Sinha to monitor the developments that were taking place after the accident. The Chief Minister even promised that he will visit Nimati Ghat on 9th September to assess the situation.
Former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal represents Majuli in the state assembly. He wrote on Twitter, “Anguished to learn of the ferry accident in Majuli. I have talked to the Assam CM Himanta Biswa regarding the accident and he has informed me of ongoing rescue and relief operations. I have directed @shipmin_india to provide all necessary support to help the victims.”
