Five missing after being swept away while swimming in Brahmaputra in Guwahati

At least five people went missing while swimming in the Brahmaputra river in Guwahati on Wednesday, officials confirmed on Thursday. The incident occurred at Bhakti Kutir in Kharghuli , where eight individuals had entered the river for a swim, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

Three of the swimmers managed to return to the riverbank and were subsequently taken to a hospital. The remaining five have not been traced yet. ASDMA officials said that teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed, along with local authorities, to carry out coordinated search and rescue operations.

So far, no bodies have been recovered, and officials said the identities of the missing individuals are still being confirmed. Although all eight swimmers belonged to the same group , establishing who exactly remains missing has been difficult because the survivors were in a state of panic and could not clearly identify everyone who went under. None of the missing individuals had any identification at the site, and with families yet to verify details, authorities are relying on rescue progress to piece together accurate information. Rescue efforts continue, and the area has been secured to allow teams to operate smoothly.

A senior NDRF official said that the location of the incident is known for strong undercurrents, complicating the search. It was noted by the official that although the surface of the river appears calm, powerful currents lie beneath, reducing the likelihood that the missing persons remain near the incident site. It was further stated that searches are being conducted downstream as well.

Rescue teams are expected to continue operations through the day as authorities monitor the situation closely.