Guwahati, Dec 11: Five people went missing while swimming in the Brahmaputra River near Bhakti Kutir in the Kharghuli area of Guwahati on Wednesday, officials confirmed on Thursday.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), eight individuals had entered the river to swim. Three managed to come out safely and were admitted to a hospital, while five remain unaccounted for.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing, involving teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local authorities. No bodies have been recovered so far, and the identities of the missing individuals are yet to be confirmed.

A senior NDRF official said the operation is challenging due to strong underwater currents. “While the river surface appears calm, powerful currents beneath make rescue efforts difficult,” he noted. Authorities are also searching downstream, considering the possibility that the missing swimmers may have been carried away.

The area has been secured to facilitate rescue efforts, which continue as teams work to locate the missing persons.