North Lakhimpur, April 24 -- A 30-year-old man drowned in the Kakoi river in Lakhimpur district on Friday, with local residents alleging that deep excavation of the riverbed for construction purposes contributed to the incident.

The deceased, identified as Raju Garh of No. 2 Puthimari village under Bogeenadi Police Station, is believed to have slipped into a deep pit in the river during the afternoon. The pit was allegedly created due to the extraction of sand and gravel for a nearby road project.

According to villagers, children who witnessed the incident alerted others, following which a search was launched. The body was recovered in the evening after several hours of effort.

Residents have accused the contractor involved in the cons...