Barpeta (Assam): At least six people, including four children, went missing after a machine-operated country boat capsized in the Brahmaputra river in Assam’s Barpeta district on Tuesday, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving police, civil authorities and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

According to officials, the boat was travelling from Rahampur to Borghul char, a riverine island, carrying 22 passengers when it reportedly hit a whirlpool and sank midstream. While most passengers were rescued by nearby boats, six remain missing.

Barpeta Revenue Circle Field Officer Jyotirmoy Choudhury said four of the missing are children. “When the boat was sailing, it reportedly came into contact with a whirlpool and sank. Most of the people were rescued by a nearby boat,” he said.

Officials also revealed that the boat was operating without basic safety measures. “None of the passengers were wearing life jackets,” Choudhury added, raising concerns over safety compliance.

The boat pilot, who is currently undergoing medical treatment, will be questioned to ascertain the exact cause of the accident, officials said.

The missing persons have been identified as Madhu Mia (60), Sukurjan Nesa (45), Amina Parbin (8), Rahul Amin (7), Aryan Islam (4) and Junufa Yasmin (5).