Dhubri, Feb 4: Three minor students were reported missing after a country boat capsized in the Gangadhar River near Belpara Char under Tamarhat police station in Dhubri district on Tuesday evening, officials said.

The incident occurred when a boat carrying 22 students from Shagunmari village overturned shortly after beginning its return journey from Belpara Char, where the group had gone to attend a Shraddha feast. Eyewitnesses said the students had reached the destination safely before the mishap took place during the return trip.

Local residents rescued 19 students soon after the boat capsized. The missing children have been identified as Sah Alam, Mofiya, and Sarmin, all from Shagunmari village.

Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams rushed to the spot and launched search and rescue operations. Mithun Roy, Senior Station Officer of Dhubri Fire Services, said efforts were ongoing to trace the missing students.

In a separate incident on January 27, six people went missing after a boat capsized in the Brahmaputra River in Barpeta district’s Rahampur area. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SDRF, and police teams are continuing search operations there, according to Barpeta Senior Superintendent of Police Sushanta Biswa Sarma. Local residents had alleged that the boat involved did not have life jackets.

Further updates are awaited.