Unable to arrange money for the treatment of their infant daughter's heart disorder, a couple allegedly committed suicide along with the baby.
Barun and Animaka Kalita along with their 10-month-old daughter Riyasmita jumped into the Brahmaputra river near the Sukreswar temple ghat in the heart of the city yesterday, police said today.
According to a note left behind by the couple, they took the decision after they learnt that Rs 4.5 lakh will be required for the treatment of the baby who had a hole in her heart, they said.
The couple, who had come here from Tihu in Nalbari district for the baby's treatment, had hired a boat for a ride to the Umananda temple on an island in the river, said police.
The boatsman told the police that as the boat reached mid-river, the couple jumped into the swirling waters along with their daughter.
"I and my handy man immediately gave them life jackets and threw ropes to rescue them. But they refused all help with folded hands and went down," the boatsman said, adding that he immediately informed other boatmen and the river police.
River policemen rushed to the spot, but failed to rescue them as they were swept away by the strong river current.
The baby's milk and water bottles, her prescription and the couple's return ticket to Tihu were left behind with the note.
Barun's father later told newsmen that the family had earlier applied for free heart hole surgery under a state health scheme, but did not receive any response.
The state disaster response force, river police and local boatmen are searching for the three, the police said.
