Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday directed all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to act against those who carry excess load on ferries and buses. He gave the directive at a review meeting.
Survivors of Monday's tragedy at Medartari in lower Dhubri alleged that the ferry carried an excess load of passengers and goods.
Later in the day, Mr. Gogoi, accompanied by AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi and PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita, visited Medartari ghat in Dhubri district to meet the victims' families.
Mr. Gandhi, who arrived at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in the afternoon, air-dashed to the site in an Indian Air Force helicopter.
The disaster management authorities, quoting a district administration report, said that till 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 21 bodies were recovered and 42 people missing as per FIRs lodged by the families of those missing. In all, 70 persons were rescued by first responders. While these official figures accounted for 133 persons, the survivors claimed that there were about 400 persons on board.
