The remains of three students from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar, who had been reported missing, were discovered in a waterfall located in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, according to police reports.
The students had embarked on an outing and are believed to have fallen into a waterfall near Harangajao village. The body of one student was retrieved, while the other two were located as stated by officials.
The deceased individuals have been identified as Sarva Kritika (20), Sauhard Rai (20), and Radhika Kumari (19). Authorities indicated that Kritika and Rai were from Uttar Pradesh, whereas Radhika was from Bihar.
Farukh Ahmed, the additional superintendent of police (ASP) for Dima Hasao, mentioned that they were alerted to an accident at Harangajao, prompting the immediate deployment of two teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to the scene.
“Following an extensive search, one body was retrieved, and two additional bodies were discovered submerged in the water. All three have been transported to Haflong for post-mortem examinations,” Ahmed stated.
NIT Silchar’s director, Professor Dilip Kumar Baidya, confirmed that all three individuals were first-year students. He mentioned that they had exited the institute’s premises without adhering to campus protocols.
“We have a regulation that mandates every student to notify the relevant authorities prior to leaving. Regrettably, some students disregard this rule, and this incident is a case in point,” Baidya remarked.
He further noted that the students’ parents have been notified and requested to visit the institute. According to the police in Dima Hasao, the parents of two of the students have already arrived in the district, while the others are en route.
“Since the incident took place in Dima Hasao, the local police are managing the legal procedures. Should the parents wish to retrieve the bodies directly from Haflong, they will be permitted to do so. Alternatively, if they prefer the bodies to be brought to the NIT campus, we will accommodate that request as well,” the director explained.
In the meantime, some parents have expressed concerns regarding the safety protocols at NIT Silchar, claiming that the institute should have exercised closer supervision over student movements.
The director indicated that the institute is currently working on enhancing its security measures and regulations regarding student movements in light of the tragedy.
“We were already in the process of addressing this, but following this unfortunate event, we will implement additional rules to ensure improved safety and accountability,” Baidya concluded.
