At least three people went missing after they fell into water of the Brahmaputra River from an awning of a boat at Mohanganj area under Rajibpur upazila of Kurigram district on Thursday night.
The victims are Bablu Munshi, 43, son of Ibrahim Munshi, at East Barobaldia village under Malibari union and Ful Miah, 45, son of Habil Uddin, at South Gidari village under Gidari union of Sadar upazila and Hasen Ali, 50, son of Akbar Miah, at North Sreepur under Sreepur union of Sundarganj upazila in the district.
A boatman Altaf Hossain Dalachi said more than 150 passengers were returning back at Kamarjani Ghat of Sadar upazila on Thursday night by a boat from Patherchar area under Dewanganj upazila after attending a Urs at Bakshiganj Darbar Sharif in Jamalpur district.
When the boat reached at Mohonganj area under Rajibpur upazila under Kurigram district around 9 pm, it hit underwater sand char suddenly. During the time, some 10/11 passengers sitting on the cover made of bamboo of the boat fell into water, he also said.
Of them, 6/7 pilgrims were able to swim ashore safely however three others went missing, Saddam Hossain Paban, a social worker of the area, said.
M Saiduzzaman, chairman Mollarchar union parishad under Sadar upazila, said a search operation was going on to rescue them lively or recover their bodies from the river.
After the incident, the close relatives and near and dear ones rushed to the Kamarjani Ghat and were crying there for the victims.
A pal of gloom also descended in the areas following the incident, said Faruqul Islam, head teacher of Kamarjani Merchants’ High School.
