This was the moment a boatman slipped into a flooded river while ferrying passengers in northeastern India.

A video of the spine chilling moment shows the man swimming to catch up with the boat. But as the boat drifts away, he manages to swim to the bank navigating strong currents.

The incident occurred at Goalpara district in northeastern India on May 26.

Four boatmen were ferrying passengers from Damra Bazar to Patpora Gaon across the flooded Dudhnoi river, when one of them, Walsang Sangma, lost his balance and fell into the river.

As Sangma swam desperately towards the boat, one of his colleagues tried to pull him up with the help of a long bamboo pole used to row the boat.

But the boat was moving too swiftly for Sangma to catch up. He decided to give up the chase and swim to the shore. The other boatmen went ahead without him and reached their destination.

A local resident, Purno Sangma, said: “It is dangerous to ferry passengers during the floods, But with no other way to cross the river here, people take risks.”

“A bamboo bridge built by villagers last year was washed away by the flood. Government officials should build a proper bridge for us,” he added.