Assam: Devotee swept away during Mansa devi idol immersion in Silchar, SDRF launches search operation

A religious celebration turned tragic on Wednesday, July 30 night as a man was swept away by strong river currents during the immersion of Goddess Mansa’s idol at the Sadarghat immersion ghat in Silchar. The incident took place along the Barak River and involved three family members who slipped into the water.

The three individuals brothers Gaurang Ghosh and Krishna Ghosh, along with their relative Biplab Das — were participating in the final rites of the Mansa Puja, which they had organized at their residence on Second Link Road.

According to eyewitnesses and family members, Krishna Ghosh and Biplab Das accidentally fell into the river while performing the immersion rituals. In a desperate attempt to save his younger brother, Gaurang Ghosh — who reportedly could not swim — jumped in after them but was quickly overwhelmed by the swift current.

The Sadar Police’s mounted patrol team, stationed nearby, responded swiftly to the emergency. Constable Jamil Ahmed Mazumdar displayed exceptional presence of mind and resourcefulness, using a piece of cloth as a makeshift rope to rescue Krishna and Biplab from the water.

Despite ongoing search efforts, Gaurang Ghosh remains missing and is feared to have drowned. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has since launched an extensive rescue and recovery operation. Cachar’s Additional Superintendent of Police, Numal Mahatta, visited the site to oversee the rescue mission and monitor the situation firsthand.