Assam: Boats with over 100 passengers collide in Brahmaputra, dozens missing

Local media reported that a boat carrying people from Nimatighat in the Jorhat district capsized after colliding with a ferry operating from Kamalabari ghat in Majuli island.

Dozens of people are feared missing after two passenger boats carrying about 100 people collided and capsized in the river Brahmaputra near eastern Assam's Majuli on Wednesday afternoon.

Jorhat deputy commissioner Ashok Kumar Barman said the mishap happened around 4 pm. 

State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force personnel are currently engaged in rescue operations.

Local media reported that a boat carrying people from Nimatighat in the Jorhat district capsized after colliding with a ferry operating from Kamalabari ghat in Majuli island.

Terming the mishap as tragic, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directed Majuli and Jorhat administrations to undertake rescue mission expeditiously with the help of NDRF and SDRF. 

The chief minister also advised state tourism and sports minister, Bimal Borah, to rush to the accident site. 

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal spoke to the Assam Chief Minister and took stock of the situation. He also directed the Shipping ministry to provide all necessary support to help the victims.