Tourist missing after boat capsizes in Sangu River

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Search and rescue operations are underway in Bandarban’s Thanchi upazila following a boat capsize in the Sangu River that left a 24-year-old tourist missing. The incident occurred Friday afternoon near the remote Bara Pathar area in Tindu.

The missing individual, Jawad-ul Islam Mahian, a resident of Mymensingh, was part of a 13-member tourist group. The group had traveled to the Tindu area via Alikadam. According to local reports, the group hired two motorized boats around 5:00 p.m. to tour the Bara Pathar region. While navigating the Sangu River, strong currents caused one of the boats to capsize. While the other passengers managed to reach the shore safely, Mahian was swept away by the river.

Thanchi Fire Service personnel conducted an initial search at the scene Friday evening but were unable to locate the missing tourist. Due to the challenging conditions of the river, authorities have requested assistance from a specialized diving unit based in Chittagong. Officials confirmed that the dive team departed for Thanchi Saturday morning to resume the search operation.

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Thanchi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kanan Sarkar noted that the group had traveled to Tindu accompanied by a local guide named Hebal Tripura. Because the party did not pass through the main Thanchi transit points, official details regarding their itinerary were limited. Furthermore, rescue efforts have been hampered by the lack of cellular network coverage in the Tindu area, making real-time communication with the search teams difficult.

Thanchi Fire Service station officer Rohidur Rahman confirmed that the operation will intensify once the divers arrive at the site. Search teams are currently waiting for the reinforcements to begin a comprehensive sweep of the river.