JULY 7, 2024 Guwahati, Assam – The body of 8-year-old Abhinash, who tragically fell into a drain in Guwahati's Jyotinagar area three days ago, was found on Sunday morning, marking a somber end to an extensive search operation. 

Abhinash slipped from his father's scooter during a heavy rainstorm on Thursday evening. Despite his father Hiralal's desperate attempt to save him, Abhinash was swept away by the powerful current. Over the next three days, Hiralal and his wife stayed at the search location, holding onto the hope of finding their son alive.

The search, which involved the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other agencies, utilized sniffer dogs, excavators, and various equipment to scour the storm drain. The boy’s body was recovered in the Rajgarh area, more than four kilometers downstream from where he initially fell.

Abhinash's parents identified his body at the Guwahati Medical College. Scientific examinations and further procedures are currently underway.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his condolences and gratitude towards the rescue teams. He had visited the search site on Saturday and met with Abhinash's parents, offering them support and urging them to prepare for the worst. Deeply pained With a heavy heart, we have learnt that the child's body has been found. My deepest condolences go out to his parents and family during this unimaginable time," Sarma wrote on X.

The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of helping the parents cope with the loss. "We should all ensure that they return home and prepare them to face the harsh truth. If something were to happen to the parents now, we would not be able to forgive ourselves," he stated. The community mourns the loss of young Abhinash, and the incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by open drains during heavy rains.