Dhubri: The body of a contractor, Rekib Uddin (29), was fished out of the Tipkai river in Dhubri district on Friday.Uddin, from Sijubari in Hatigaon, Guwahati, had travelled to Padmer Alga sandbar village on Wednesday to inspect school construction work. He and others hired an engine-fitted country boat that capsized midstream after being swept away by the current. Police were informed, but it was dark by the time the SDRF reached the spot. Searches resumed on Thursday but failed to locate him. Villagers spotted his body floating on Friday morning.Police and the SDRF recovered the body and sent it to Dhubri Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy, a police source said. The body was later handed over to family members.“Boatmen and others on the boat swam to the bank of the river. Rekib didn’t know how to swim and went missing,” said Gauripur resident Dilwar Hussain.Hussain alleged the boat had no life jackets, despite an IWTD mandate after the 2012 Madettari tragedy that killed 42. He also alleged Dhubri IWTD officials did not respond to calls for two days.
