Teen Missing After Being Swept Away by Teesta River Current

A 17-year-old boy has gone missing after being swept away by the Teesta river near Baladoba, close to the Indo-Bangladesh border. Local residents have criticized the delayed response of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), raising concerns about the effectiveness of emergency rescue operations. Eyewitnesses reported that the boy, Jahidur Islam, became exhausted while attempting to cross the river. Despite immediate notification to the police, locals expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of timely assistance. The incident site is near the international border, leading to fears that the strong current may have carried the boy's body across into Bangladesh. Community members are urging the Assam Government to improve emergency response mechanisms.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 5, 2026, 11:42 IST

Incident Overview

An image of Teesta river

Dhubri, July 5: A 17-year-old boy has reportedly gone missing after being swept away by the powerful currents of the Teesta river near Baladoba, situated close to the Indo-Bangladesh border, on Saturday. Local residents have raised concerns regarding the delayed response of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), questioning the efficiency of the emergency rescue operations.

As per local accounts, the incident took place around 11 am when the youth, identified as Jahidur Islam, decided to take a bath in the river, accompanied by another boy.

Witnesses indicated that while trying to cross the river, Jahidur became fatigued due to the strong current. Unable to either advance or return to the shore, he was ultimately swept away and vanished beneath the water.

Residents promptly alerted the Dharamshala police outpost, and police personnel arrived at the scene without delay. However, locals expressed their dissatisfaction with the rescue efforts, noting that nearly four hours had passed without the arrival of the SDRF team.

The location of the incident is approximately 200 meters from the Indo-Bangladesh border, raising concerns among residents that the strong current may have carried the boy's body across into Bangladesh.

In light of the delay, local residents voiced their frustration over the SDRF's preparedness and urged the Assam Government to enhance the emergency response system to ensure timely assistance in similar situations.

As of the time of this report, the search for the missing teenager remains ongoing, with efforts expected to continue.