10 KILLED IN ASSAM AS THREE BOATS CAPSIZE DURING STORM

Ten people, including six minors and two women, were killed in Assam’s Goalpara district on Sunday when three boats in which they were travelling capsized during a storm that wreaked havoc in several parts of the state.

According to police, the incident took place on the district’s border with Meghalaya, nearly 200 kilometres from Guwahati, during a boat race organised on the Saban river in West Garo Hills district of the neighbouring state.

“The victims, all from Goalpara, had gone to witness the race. But their boats capsized around 4.30pm when a severe storm hit the area. We have recovered 10 bodies. No one is reported missing,” Goalpara superintendant of police Amitabh Sinha told HT.

Initial reports had claimed as many as 10 small boats had capsized and the number of casualties could be higher. But the police denied the claims. Thousands of visitors had gathered at the annual race.

Sunday’s severe storm, which affected several parts of lower and central Assam including state capital Guwahati, also claimed life of one fisherman at Deepor Beel, a water body on the outskirts of the city. One more is missing.

One motorcycle rider was killed in Guwahati when a tree fell on him during the storm which lasted nearly 20 minutes.

Dozens of houses were damaged and one 110 feet bamboo idol of goddess Durga, which was under construction, got toppled at Bishnupur area of the city.

Once completed, the structure would have vied to be the world’s tallest Durga idol.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE DURING A BOAT RACE ORGANISED ON THE SABAN RIVER IN WEST GARO HILLS DISTRICT OF THE STATE