Guwahati: Three members of a family, including a 12-year-old boy, drowned after their boat capsized in a wetland at Merbil in Lakhimpur district on Sunday morning.The deceased were identified as Padma Dutta (45), Ajit Dutta (25) and Mridusmin Dutta (12). They were residents of Dewlia Gaon under Ghilamara police station.According to Dhakuakhana Fire and Emergency Services personnel, Ghilamara police informed them about the incident around 9.17 am. The three reportedly boarded the boat and were heading to a paddy field when it capsized.A rescue team left for the spot around 9.20 am in a medium rescue truck and a quick-response team vehicle. However, residents had recovered all three bodies from the pond by the time the team arrived.“On reaching the spot, it was found that people had already recovered the bodies of all three victims from the pond. Therefore, no further rescue operation was required by the crew,” SDRF official said.The bodies were handed over to the police and taken to North Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital for autopsies.Villagers said the boat may have struck an underwater obstruction or got entangled in fishing nets spread across the wetland, possibly causing it to overturn. However, the exact cause of the incident is yet to be established.
