Three people, including the groom's elder brother, died when a boat sank while crossing a beel in Mirzapur, Tangail.

The accident happened on Thursday afternoon, 27 July, in Tarafpur Dakshinpara village of Tarafpur union in the upazila.

The dead are Ripon Chowdhury, 40, a Singapore expatriate from Mundirapara village in Bahuria union; Sneha Akter, 8, daughter of his cousin Kohinur Mia, an expatriate in Italy; and Asif Mia, 20, son of Selim Mia of Haria village in Bhaora union. Ripon Chowdhury was the elder brother of the groom, Tutul Chowdhury.

Locals said Tutul Chowdhury, son of Intaz Ali Chowdhury of Mundirapara village, was to marry Lipa Akter, daughter of Majnu Mia of Tarafpur village, on Thursday. The wedding party set out after midday. Some of the party crossed the local Buira beel from Majnu Mia's house in Kanu Mia's boat. On the second trip, seven or eight people including women and children boarded the same boat to cross the beel to a microbus parked on the Mirzapur–Tarafpur road.

A woman on board saw a huge snake in the water, screamed in fear and began moving about. When the others also screamed, the boat rocked and sank. The others swam ashore, but the three drowned. Locals recovered their bodies. After the accident the groom and his companions returned without the bride, and both families are in mourning.

Waz Uddin of Tarafpur village said: "The passengers were frightened when they saw a large snake. Seeing it come towards the boat, they moved to one side and the boat overturned. That is how the accident happened."

The groom, Tutul Chowdhury, said: "I have lost my words after this."

Tarafpur union parishad chairman Aziz Reza confirmed the incident. Belayet Hossain, station officer of Mirzapur fire station, said no diving team was sent as no one was reported missing.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.