Body of drowned teenager recovered in Dimapur after two-day search

DIMAPUR — The body of a 17-year-old boy, who drowned in the Dhansiri River on July 8, was recovered on Tuesday after an extensive search operation.

The deceased, identified as Ashikol Ali from Baspari, Lahorijan in Assam, was bathing in the river with a friend near Govinda Paira Colony at Burma Camp, Dimapur, when the incident occurred around 2:30 pm.

A joint effort by the Home Guard, Civil Defense, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Dimapur, and the Assam SDRF team successfully located the body approximately 300 meters from the site around 10 am on Tuesday. The search had initially begun on Monday but was halted during the night.

ASI Angukato K. Yeptho from the Home Guard, Civil Defense, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Dimapur, who led the second day’s search team of 14 members, said that a team of 12 SDRF personnel, led by SI Tesemo Apon, initiated the search operation on the first day.

Yeptho advised citizens to stay away from rivers during the rainy season, as the water levels can rise quickly and the unpredictable nature of river currents increases the risk of drowning.

He cautioned the public about the deceptive nature of river depth, especially in areas affected by sand mining and advised them to avoid riverbanks and low-lying areas prone to flooding.