Tragic Boat Accident in Sonai: Incomplete Road Project Blamed, Teenager Dead, Five Missing

In a heart-wrenching incident, a boat carrying ten passengers capsized in the floodwaters of Sonai East, resulting in the death of a teenager and leaving five others missing. The accident occurred around 12:45 PM on Monday as the passengers were en route to Sonai Bazar from Madhurbandi village.

This incident happened in the Madhurbandi village of East Sonai today. The recent flood waters that inundated the village have submerged the only road connecting the village to the market area. This afternoon as heavy rain and strong winds battered the area, the boat’s passengers attempted to steer it towards the bank for safety. Unfortunately, the boat capsized, plunging all passengers into the floodwaters. While four passengers managed to cling to an electricity pole until help arrived, five others, including 13-year-old Manowar Ahmed, were swept away by the current. Manowar’s body was later recovered.

Upon receiving the distress call, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) initiated a search operation, which was soon joined by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Intensive search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the missing individuals.

Representative of the Sadhin Bazar Goan Panchayat Ranjit Kumar Das said, “This incident happened right in front of my eyes. When they were crossing the waterbody on the boat I asked them to return with their boats towards the bank but they couldn’t return and the unfortunate incident happened”.

“The road that we have was surveyed back in 2022 when Keerthi Jalli was the DC, she assured us that the road would be elevated but the work wasn’t completed. If the road were there, the people wouldn’t be forced to take the boat as the flood submerged the road”, the member of the Gaon Panchayat further mentioned.

A victim’s family member said, “They ventured out of their home heading towards Sonai Bazar and had almost come to the banks. I have lost three people in my family, my son, my nephew and his son, to this accident and the rest of them are from my village also my own. The wind swept them inside the water body and the boat capsized. They tried to swim but the waves were extremely turbulent. 4 of them somehow climbed up the boat when it floated”.

“Before every election, they assure us they will give us everything, but elections come and go, we get nothing, just loss of lives. No one asks about our whereabouts. Keerthi Jalli madam was transferred and so were the funds sanctioned for the road”, he lamented further.

“Today at around 12:45 in the afternoon a regrettable incident has happened. 10 passengers in one boat were heading towards the market from the village when a storm came and caught them off guard. The boat capsized and all ten people fell into the waters. 5 people recovered 4 were sent for treatment at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital and one person a minor died in that accident. 5 people are still missing. To recover them, NDRF, SDRF and the District Administration are constantly scourging the water The local people are also helping. We have launched an aggressive rescue mission to find them all” said SP Numal Mahatta who reached the spot along with other top officials of the Cacahr Police and the District Administration.

As the search for the missing continues, the incident underscores the urgent need for infrastructure development and government accountability to prevent further loss of life in flood-prone areas.