Shillong, August 22: The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Meghalaya, on Thursday recovered the body of a 23-year-old boatman who drowned while ferrying three tourists at Wahrew, Sohbar, in East Khasi Hills district.

The three tourists were rescued by local residents soon after the incident, but the boatman could not be located at the time.

Following information from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), East Khasi Hills, the SDRF team proceeded to the incident site on August 20 and launched a search and recovery operation.

The SDRF, along with the Search and Rescue Team (SRT) of Fire and Emergency Services, conducted an extensive search operation on August 20 and 21. The teams used a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) fitted with an outboard motor, along with barbed wire, hooks and a harpoon, to search the water body.

At around 5.30 pm on August 21, local fishermen spotted a body floating on the surface of the water. The SDRF team, assisted by local residents and police personnel from Bholaganj Outpost, subsequently retrieved the body.

The deceased’s body was handed over to the police for further necessary action.