Dibrugarh: Two brothers were swept away by the strong current of the Subansiri river while performing a ritual at Ghagar Ghat in Lakhimpur district on Monday.The missing men were identified as Ganesh Baruah (44) and his younger brother Bhairab Baruah (40), residents of Chamua village. Ganesh worked as an accountant in the education department at Dhakuakhana, while Bhairab was a contractual employee of the panchayat and rural development department at Gharmora.According to residents, the brothers went to Ghagar Ghat following a priest’s advice to offer prayers and religious items in the river. They reportedly performed the ritual after being told their “Rahu-Ketu” was unfavourable.At around 10.15 am, the brothers entered the river to offer the items while the priest remained at the ghat. Their mother was also present.Ganesh was caught in the current and swept away. Bhairab, who was standing nearby, reportedly tried to save his elder brother but was also carried away.“Ganesh was swept away in the current. Bhairab tried to help his brother, but the current was too strong, and he was also swept away,” an elderly resident said.State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was informed, and they launched a search operation. Rescue personnel deployed boats and divers to search for the brothers.“Teams have been deployed, and the search operation is continuing with boats and divers. We are making every effort to trace the two missing persons,” rescue personnel said.The brothers could not be traced till Monday afternoon.The incident left the family and residents of Chamua village in shock. Both men are survived by their wives, one daughter each, and their mother. Their father died a couple of months ago.Relatives and villagers waited anxiously at the ghat as the search operation continued.
