Dol Utsav Trip Turns Tragic as Two Guwahati Youths Drown at Waterfall in Meghalaya

Meghalaya / Assam, India — The joyous celebrations of Dol Utsav ended in heartbreak on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, when two young men from Guwahati drowned at a scenic waterfall near the Assam–Meghalaya border during a festive outing with friends.

The incident occurred at the Ganapati Waterfalls, a popular spot close to the inter-state boundary, where a group of five friends from Guwahati had stopped to celebrate the festival and enjoy the holiday.

According to preliminary reports, all five entered the water for a bath, but two of them went missing after some time. Alarmed, the remaining members of the group searched the waters but could not locate them, and immediately alerted local authorities.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were mobilised along with personnel from both Meghalaya Police and Assam Police. After an intensive joint operation, rescue teams recovered the bodies of the two youths trapped between rocks in the water, officials said.

The deceased have been identified as Jayrani Wari and Wenar Bodo, residents of the Kharghuli area in Guwahati. Their bodies were shifted by Meghalaya Police to a hospital in Nongpoh for post-mortem examinations.

The tragic loss has cast a shadow over the festive period for the families and friends of the victims, prompting renewed calls for caution while visiting natural water sites, especially during celebratory holidays.