Tragic Drowning Incident in Assam's Pagladia River Claims Three Lives
In a heartbreaking incident, three persons, including an engaged couple, drowned in the Pagladia River in Assam's Baksa district near the Bhutan border on Sunday evening. The victims were bathing when they tragically lost their lives, as confirmed by local officials.
Details of the Victims and the Incident
The deceased have been identified as Pinki Das, aged 25, and her fiancé Dibojyoti Darjee, aged 28, both residents of Panjabari in Guwahati. The third victim is Guddu Deka, aged 38, Pinki's sister, who lived in Baksa after marriage and was the wife of Manaranjan Deka from Niz-Barsiral village.
According to district authorities, the trio entered the river to bathe and drowned after becoming trapped in a pit. The bodies were recovered later the same evening and taken to Nalbari Medical College Hospital, where they were declared dead.
Local Allegations and Official Response
Locals in the area have alleged that illegal sand mining activities have created dangerous pits in the river, leading to the tragedy. They have demanded immediate action to halt such operations to prevent future incidents.
However, officials have denied any involvement of illegal sand mining. An official stated, "The water level in the river was as usual and has not increased, despite rains starting in the state. The deaths occurred in a pit in the river, which may have formed naturally or due to some human activities, such as embankment construction work."
Timeline and Aftermath
A report from the Baganpara revenue circle officer to the Baksa district commissioner indicated that information about the drowning was received from the concerned gaon pradhan at around 4:30 pm on Sunday. The gaon pradhan explained that Pinki Das and Dibojyoti Darjee had visited Guddu Deka's house, and all three went to bathe before the incident occurred.
Following post-mortem examinations on Monday, Guddu Deka was cremated in Baksa, while the bodies of Pinki Das and Dibojyoti Darjee were sent to Guwahati for their last rites. The community is in mourning, with calls for increased river safety measures and investigations into the causes of the pits.
This tragic event highlights the ongoing risks associated with river bathing in areas affected by human activities, underscoring the need for stricter regulations and public awareness to prevent such fatalities in the future.
