Lack of adequate vigilance by the administration and IIT-G authorities has turned the bank of the Brahmaputra in North Guwahati into a favourite party destination for students of IIT-Guwahati.
IIT-G student Ravindra Kumar Meena, who hailed from Dholpur in Rajasthan, was partying on the Brahmaputra bank, along with six other students, on Monday evening. He drowned when he decided to take a bath in the river. While two of his friends were saved by locals, Meena could not be traced. On Friday morning, his body was found floating near the river bank.
"For the last few years, students often frequent the banks of the Brahmaputra for enjoying drinking sessions. Since there is no police patrolling in the area, students find the riverbank a favourable destination for partying and bathing, which is dangerous," said an eyewitness of the drowning incident.
Police said beer bottles were recovered from the site where IIT-G students were partying.
A senior official of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said, "Students who come from outside Assam are hardly aware of the strong currents of the Brahmaputra which is very dynamic. During the monsoon, the current in the river is very strong." He said IIT-G authorities should sensitize its students, particularly those coming from outside, about the Brahmaputra and its hazards, especially during the monsoon.
The IIT-G authorities, on the other hand, said if students have been going for partying on the bank of Brahmaputra by putting their lives in danger, the local residents should have at least apprised the matter to IIT-G authorities. "Till today, none of the locals of North Guwahati have informed us that our students are going for partying near the Brahmaputra river bank. We will definitely act if such things occur. But one should not make a sweeping statement against IIT-students," said Labanu Konwar, spokesman of IIT-G.
Konwar said there is strict instruction to all IIT-G students to reach the campus by 10:30 pm, but the drowning incident took place at 9:30 pm on Monday.
Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri said the district authorities will be cautious so such an incident doesn't happen again. "Students need to act responsibly. It is impossible to keep vigil everywhere," said Agnihotri.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Brahmaputra-bank-party-hub-of-IIT-G-students/articleshow/21423682.cms
IIT-G student Ravindra Kumar Meena, who hailed from Dholpur in Rajasthan, was partying on the Brahmaputra bank, along with six other students, on Monday evening. He drowned when he decided to take a bath in the river. While two of his friends were saved by locals, Meena could not be traced. On Friday morning, his body was found floating near the river bank.
"For the last few years, students often frequent the banks of the Brahmaputra for enjoying drinking sessions. Since there is no police patrolling in the area, students find the riverbank a favourable destination for partying and bathing, which is dangerous," said an eyewitness of the drowning incident.
Police said beer bottles were recovered from the site where IIT-G students were partying.
A senior official of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said, "Students who come from outside Assam are hardly aware of the strong currents of the Brahmaputra which is very dynamic. During the monsoon, the current in the river is very strong." He said IIT-G authorities should sensitize its students, particularly those coming from outside, about the Brahmaputra and its hazards, especially during the monsoon.
The IIT-G authorities, on the other hand, said if students have been going for partying on the bank of Brahmaputra by putting their lives in danger, the local residents should have at least apprised the matter to IIT-G authorities. "Till today, none of the locals of North Guwahati have informed us that our students are going for partying near the Brahmaputra river bank. We will definitely act if such things occur. But one should not make a sweeping statement against IIT-students," said Labanu Konwar, spokesman of IIT-G.
Konwar said there is strict instruction to all IIT-G students to reach the campus by 10:30 pm, but the drowning incident took place at 9:30 pm on Monday.
Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri said the district authorities will be cautious so such an incident doesn't happen again. "Students need to act responsibly. It is impossible to keep vigil everywhere," said Agnihotri.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Brahmaputra-bank-party-hub-of-IIT-G-students/articleshow/21423682.cms
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