Daijiworld Media Network - Guwahati

Guwahati, Aug 5: A 13-year-old boy from Assam’s Sivasagar district lost his life while trying to save his pet puppy after floodwaters swept through his village, leaving his family devastated.

The tragic incident took place at Bamun Pukhuri village under Nazira, where Class 8 student Hridip Panika was swept away by strong currents while attempting to rescue his three-month-old puppy, Borun.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the grieving Panika family on Wednesday and offered condolences to the parents of the only child they lost.

Hridip’s mother, Parbati Panika, broke down as the Chief Minister consoled her, while his father Deepak Panika struggled to hold back tears while recalling his son’s final moments.

“He was our only son,” Deepak said, as he remembered the boy who had brought home the puppy when it was just one-and-a-half months old and cared for it with great affection.

The Chief Minister assured the family that the state government would extend all possible support.

“I will help you in every possible way. I will build your house and do everything I can, but I cannot bring your son back,” Sarma told the grieving parents.

As floodwaters rose rapidly around their home, Hridip noticed his puppy being carried away by the current. Without hesitation, the teenager entered the water in an attempt to save the animal.

While Borun survived, Hridip was swept away by the powerful current. His body was recovered after an extensive search operation.

Recalling the tragedy, his mother said her brother had rushed to help the family but the rising waters had already made it impossible to save the boy.

“My brother came to rescue us, but the water had already reached here. We could not save our child,” she said.

Hridip, a student of the local Model School, was remembered by neighbours as a cheerful boy with a deep love for animals.

The devastating incident has emerged as one of the most heartbreaking tragedies during the ongoing floods in Assam, which have claimed lives, displaced thousands and caused widespread destruction across several districts.

For the Panika family, the loss goes beyond their damaged home and belongings. The flood has left behind an irreplaceable void — the loss of their only son, whose final act was driven by compassion for his beloved pet.

Even as the government assured assistance to rebuild what was destroyed, the family continues to face a grief that no relief can undo.