Reported by Farhana Ahmed
North Lakhimpur: A 30-year-old man drowned in the Kakoi river in Lakhimpur district on Friday, with local residents alleging that deep excavation of the riverbed for construction purposes contributed to the incident.
The deceased, identified as Raju Garh of No. 2 Puthimari village under Bogeenadi Police Station, is believed to have slipped into a deep pit in the river during the afternoon. The pit was allegedly created due to the extraction of sand and gravel for a nearby road project.
According to villagers, children who witnessed the incident alerted others, following which a search was launched. The body was recovered in the evening after several hours of effort.
Residents have accused the contractor involved in the construction work of exceeding the permissible depth for excavation. The local unit of the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) claimed that the riverbed had been dug to a depth of about 10 feet, despite a stipulated limit of four feet.
The organisation has sought compensation for the bereaved family, stating that the victim was the sole breadwinner. Villagers have also demanded an inquiry into the incident and stricter oversight of such activities.