Sensation prevails as a youth, who was travelling in a ferry coming from Rajaduar Ghat towards Guwahati, jumped into river Brahmaputra on Tuesday.
This is suspected to be a fresh case of suicide into the Brahmaputra.
However, the reason behind taking such step is yet to be known.
The incident took place at around 3 pm, a few minutes after the ferry – RPL Burhadiya – left Rajaduar Ghat in North Guwahati.
The ferry is run by the Inland Water Transport department of Assam government.
The unidentified youth is aged about 25-26 years, as informed by the other passengers of the ferry.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel have launched operation in search of the youth.
However, till filing of this report, the SDRF personnel have not been able to fish out the youth, who has been swept away by the current of the mighty river.
On the basis of the statement of the ferry’s master Someswar Sakia, the official at Rajaduar Ghat, Guwahati, Mukul Das, has lodged an FIR with Pandu River Police.
According to a section of passengers, the youth before jumping into river Brahmaputra offered one Rs 100 note to a beggar, who was also travelling in the ferry.
The physically-challenged beggar, who received the alms of Rs 100 from the youth, said when he requested the youth to offer something, the latter gave him the note.
After that the youth went two steps back and jumped into the river Brahmaputra.
“When I asked him to offer something, the man was smoking a cigarette,” the beggar said.
As soon as the youth jumped into the river, staff members of the ferry threw three life jackets into the river so that the youth can come back.
However, he rejected the helping hand.
“We threw three life jackets. He did not catch. When he flew to some distance, we moved the ferry. But the ferry stuck,” said one of the staff members of the ferry.