Tragedy struck in Assam’s Tinsukia district on Sunday when three pilgrims from Dibrugarh drowned in the Kaliyapani River, a channel of the Brahmaputra. The victims, identified as Bishal Shah, Raj Shah, and Pankaj Gupta, were all residents of Dibrugarh. The three youths had embarked on a nearly 45-km foot pilgrimage, known as Bol Bam, to collect holy water from the river and offer it to Lord Shiva.
The incident occurred when they entered the Kaliyapani stretch near Dhola to bathe and collect water, but were swept away by the strong current. A rescue operation was launched following the incident, and the bodies of all three pilgrims were subsequently recovered from the river. The bodies were sent to Tinsukia Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
The Kaliyapani River, particularly during the monsoon season, has a history of similar drowning incidents due to its deep and unpredictable waters. This latest tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the river.
