September 9, 2021: Three officials of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department have been placed under suspension for alleged negligence of duty, while senior ministers admitted that there were lapses and the 'guilty' will be punished.

At least one person died and many went missing after a boat carrying over 120 passengers collided with a ferry steamer and sank in the Brahmaputra River near Nimati Ghat in Jorhat district of Assam on Wednesday.

Rescue operations continue in Jorhat district where a boat capsized in the Brahmaputra River.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams from Sivasagar are also carrying out the rescue operations at Nimati Ghat.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also telephoned the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to enquire about the boat accident near Nimati Ghat in Jorhat.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also enquired about the incident and offered all possible help for the rescue.