Teen drowns in Gangadhar river near India-Bangladesh border in Assam's Dhubri

A 17-year-old boy drowned after being swept away by the strong currents of the Gangadhar river while bathing near the India-Bangladesh international border in Assam's Dhubri district on Saturday, July 4.

The deceased has been identified as Jahidur Islam, a resident of Dugirpar village in the Tistarpar-Baladoba area.

According to local sources, the incident occurred between 11:30 a.m. and 12 noon, when Jahidur and a group of friends were bathing in the river, around 200 metres from the international border. He was reportedly swept away by the strong current and disappeared.

Following the incident, local residents alerted the police and sought immediate rescue assistance. Villagers, however, alleged that personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reached the spot nearly four hours after being informed, drawing criticism over the delayed response.

"We informed the authorities immediately, but it took the rescue team nearly four hours to arrive. In drowning cases, every minute counts," a local resident alleged.

A joint search operation was subsequently launched by the SDRF and the Border Security Force (BSF). Owing to the river's proximity to the international border, BSF personnel maintained strict vigil during the operation to ensure the search remained within Indian territory.

After more than four hours of intensive search, rescuers recovered Jahidur's body from the downstream stretch of the river. According to local sources, the body was found lodged in the barbed-wire fencing near the India-Bangladesh border pillars.

The body was later recovered and sent for post-mortem examination, while police initiated further legal formalities.

The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the area, with residents reiterating the need for quicker emergency response in river-related accidents.