NARIKEL KUNJ | UPDATED: JAN 5, 2026
A Sunday evening excursion turned into a nightmare at the popular tourist destination of Narikel Kunj after a boat ferrying passengers lost balance and capsized. The incident has left an 18-year-old youth missing and at least a dozen others injured, sparking sharp criticism over the lack of safety infrastructure at the site.
Search and Rescue Underway
The missing individual has been identified as Dharmajit Chakma (18), a resident of Gandachhara.
- Initial Efforts: Following the capsize, rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Fire and Emergency Services initiated a search operation late Sunday evening.
- Current Status: Personnel resumed operations early Monday morning, navigating difficult conditions in an ongoing attempt to locate the youth.
- Family Plea: Anxious family members remain at the scene, calling for intensified measures to find the missing minor.
Safety Lapses and Public Outcry
Witnesses report that the boat became unstable suddenly, plunging passengers into the water and causing immediate panic. Local sources have raised serious allegations regarding recurring safety failures:
- Lack of Immediate Response: Despite the high volume of boat traffic, no dedicated government rescue team was stationed at the site during the mishap.
- Repeat Incident: Reports suggest a similar accident occurred just 24 hours prior, where tourists fell into the water after slipping from a boat, yet no preventative measures were enacted following that warning sign.
Local residents and tourists are now demanding the immediate implementation of mandatory safety protocols, trained rescue deployments, and stricter monitoring of all boat operations to prevent further tragedies at Narikel Kunj.
