Morung Express News
Wokha | July 20
A drowning incident occurred on July 20 at the Doyang Dam viewpoint side, claiming the life of 34-year-old Anyak K Phom, a resident of Yongphang village under Longleng district.
The deceased was serving as the driver in the Wokha’s Chief Medical Office (CMO) establishment.
Citing eyewitnesses, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sanis Police Station, Suthungo R Patton, informed that the tragic incident reportedly took place between 11:50 AM and 12 noon of Sunday.
Upon receiving information, a police team led by OC promptly reached the site around 1PM.
During enquiry, the police learned that the deceased, along with six friends, had gone to Doyang from Wokha for a picnic.
Narrating the sequence of events, OC Patton stated that the group had gone to the riverside to freshen up when they noticed a boat tied at the dam.
Three members decided to untie it and take a ride. The deceased, who could not swim, initially refused to join but later got into the boat despite warnings from his friends, he said.
He further informed that shortly after, the boat, reportedly in poor condition, capsized, throwing all four occupants into the river.
Although the shore was only about 15 to 20 feet away, only the three who could swim managed to reach safety, the OC added.
By the time the police arrived, the body had already been retrieved by the deceased’s friends with assistance from local fishermen present at the site.
Despite the early recovery and efforts to revive him through CPR, the attempt was unsuccessful, Patton added.
As the family of the deceased declined a postmortem, the body was released to members of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) after completing all legal formalities.
The police have registered a case of Unnatural Death (U/D) under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
The ENPO first transported the body to Wokha and later to Longleng following the arrival of the deceased’s parents.
