Silchar: Three people, including a nine-year-old boy and a 21-year-old woman, died in two separate incidents in Cachar district on Monday and Tuesday, casting a shadow over Durga Puja celebrations.In the first incident, Gautami Roy (21) drowned while attempting to rescue her nine-year-old neighbour, Surajit Namasudra, from Jiri river at Jirighat on Maha Navami on Tuesday.According to local sources, Roy had gone to bathe in the river around noon when she noticed Surajit struggling to stay afloat. Several other children were also bathing in the river at the time.Roy rushed to the boy’s rescue but was herself swept into the water. Both disappeared beneath the surface before local residents who witnessed the incident entered the river and began a search.After a prolonged search, residents recovered the two a short distance away and rushed them to Jirighat govt hospital, where doctors declared Surajit dead.Roy, who was in critical condition, was referred to Pailapool govt hospital. She was later declared dead by doctors there.In a separate incident on Monday, a 60-year-old man was killed and three members of his family, including a 13-year-old girl and a seven-month-old infant, were seriously injured when an autorickshaw overturned on a hilly road between Joydanpur and Dhalaikhal in Cachar district.The deceased was identified as Ainul Haque Mazarbhuiya.According to preliminary reports, the autorickshaw may have suffered brake failure while negotiating an uphill stretch. The driver then lost control, causing the vehicle to overturn.Mazarbhuiya sustained critical injuries and was taken to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH). As his condition deteriorated, arrangements were made to shift him to Guwahati for advanced treatment. However, he died on the way.The three injured people were admitted to SMCH, where they were undergoing treatment.
