In Guwahati's Uzanbazar, a group of nine individuals who went into the Brahmaputra River for a holy plunge were carried away by the river's powerful currents, leaving five persons missing, according to police.
Two foreigners are among the four people who have been saved. However, authorities reported that there is no trace of the other five after the rescue effort was halted on Wednesday due to poor visibility after sunset.
Early on Thursday, state and federal emergency response teams will resume the mammoth rescue effort, expanding their deployment along downstream locations.
A senior NDRF official stated, "Four people have been rescued and moved to the hospital." Until the relatives are informed, officials have not yet identified the missing people.
The incident happened close to Bhaktikutir, a prayer location beneath the Kharghuli hills that is associated with ISKCON. Unaware of the hazardous undercurrents, the party allegedly went into the river for a ceremonial wash after praying at the Krishna temple. The nine people entered what seemed to be shallow water, according to witnesses.
According to disaster management officials, the Brahmaputra, which is characterized by abrupt depth declines, shifting sandbars, and strong undercurrents, becomes particularly dangerous during the post-monsoon season.
They emphasized that even skilled swimmers may be drawn far into the river by the post-monsoon currents. Soon after receiving the distress call, crews from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) arrived to the scene and began using rescue boats to conduct a search. The riverbank has been blocked off by police, and visitors and devotees are advised not to get into the water.
