Five missing after group swept away while swimming in Brahmaputra at Guwahati’s Kharghuli

At least five people went missing after being swept away by the Brahmaputra while swimming at Bhakti Kutir in the Kharghuli area of Guwahati, officials said on Thursday, December 10.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), a group of eight individuals had entered the river on Wednesday evening. Of them, three managed to make it back to the shore and were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

“Five others are still untraceable. Teams of the NDRF, SDRF, and local authorities are jointly carrying out an intensive search and rescue operation,” an ASDMA official said. She added that the identities of the missing individuals were yet to be confirmed.

Rescue personnel have cordoned off the area to facilitate an uninterrupted operation. So far, no bodies have been recovered.

A senior official of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said the Brahmaputra’s deceptive nature was complicating the effort.

“The surface appears calm, but there are strong undercurrents. It is unlikely the missing individuals are still near the incident site. Our teams are scanning downstream stretches as well,” the official said.

Authorities are continuing the search on a war footing, but officials warned that low visibility and strong currents may prolong the operation. Further updates are awaited.