Dead body of Silchar’s Sanju Das employed as Circle Officer, Dhubri recovered; “Last rites in Cachar,” DC

Sanju Das belonging to a very humble background rose to crack the State Civil Service and became a Circle Officer. During Covid, he was deployed in Karimganj and his services touched the hearts of tens of thousands of people distressed by the uncertainty of the pandemic.

On September 29, a mechanised boat sailing with 28 passengers capsized in a channel of the Bramhaputra river. The ASDMA stated in its official statement that the boat capsized after colliding with a submerged pillar. Dhubri’s Circle Officer, Sanju Das was returning along with another revenue department official and an ASDMA field officer after inspecting an erosion-affected area. Among the other passengers, there were local women and schoolgoers too.

Some swam to the shore while some were rescued by the locals, however, the Circle officer of Dhubri remained missing. Prayers continued for his safe return, however, today morning, the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement that was becoming evident with each passing day.

“After continued efforts by our rescue teams, the body of Circle Officer Sanju Das, who went missing in the recent Dhubri boat mishap, was recovered about 1000 m downstream from the accident spot. My deep condolences to his bereaved family. May his atman attain sadgati. Om Shanti!” tweeted the Chief Minister.

Deputy Commissioner of Dhubri, Anbamuthan M.P, spoke with Barak Bulletin and said that the body has been sent to the morgue for process. “We have recovered the dead body and we are trying our best to finish the routine process as soon as possible. After the process is completed the body will be handed over to the family in Cachar and the last rites will be done in Cachar,” said the DC of Dhubri.

Sanju Das’s neighbourhood in Irongmara is in a state of shock and so are his hundreds of colleagues in Civil service. “Sanju was doing the heavylifting in his house that has mother, sisters and brothers,” said a neighbour while speaking to Barak Bulletin. The neighbour added, “He had sent money home for everyone to buy new clothes and paint the house. He is a pride of the locality and young boys and girls always looked up to him.”

The neighbours alluded to the fact that he was employed as a forester but he wasn’t contained with that and so, continued to prepare to be an ACS. “His father died on duty and so, he got the job of a forester. Most of the people of this valley would have remained satisfied with the government portfolio of a forester but then, he wasn’t and so, continued his pursuit to become an officer,” said the neighbour.

Sanju Das leaves behind his wife too who had traveled from Dhubri to Udharbond and was about to spend the Puja in Cachar. She has rushed back to Dhubri after knowing about the accident.