13-year-old drowned in Sonbeel while rowing boat, had come to visit maternal uncle’s place in Shantipur

A tragedy occurred in Karimganj’s Sonbeel when a 13-year-old boy met with an unfortunate accident while attempting to row a boat in the wetland. Identified as Rajeshwar Das, the young schoolgoer fell off the boat and was engulfed by the water’s current and swept away before anyone could see him. Rajeshwar Das had come to his maternal uncle’s home in Shantipur, where the unfortunate incident happened.

On May 3, Rajeshwar Das took his maternal uncle’s boat and set off to row around the water of Sonbeel. However, fate dealt a cruel hand as he lost his footing and fell into the water. Particularly speedy winds in the afternoon and the strong currents carried off the boy who couldn’t swim to save him from drowning. Fishermen in the vicinity scourged the water of Sonbeel for any sign of the missing teenager.

The bereaved father of the boy said, “I had left him and his mother at my in-law’s home to get my younger son admitted to a school in Fakuagram. But unfortunately, fate had other plans. He ventured out with the boat when no one was there and no one saw him leave. When we couldn’t find him and saw one boat upside down, we realised it was him”.

His body was found using fishing nets by the locals at around 5 in the evening. Kalibari Police Outpost was informed, who sent the mortal remains for postmortem today. The poignant nature of this tragedy has gripped the entire community in sorrow.