The incident occurred during a customary Pansi boat race organized at the Sontola Ghat, situated in Sontola area under Solap Union. Thousands of spectators from surrounding villages had gathered along both banks of the river to watch the festive annual event, which is a celebrated cultural tradition across rural Bangladesh during the late monsoon season.

According to eyewitnesses, the atmosphere turned tense when two high-speed racing craft—named ‘Sontola Sonabaju Ekota Express’ and ‘Bongkirat Noboshokti Fighter’—manoeuvred side-by-side while attempting to overtake each other. As the boats navigated a narrow stretch of the river, they collided forcefully, allowing water to gush in and causing both long vessels to submerge.

The collision quickly triggered a heated altercation between the crew members of the two rival boats while they were still in the water. Arguments over who was at fault rapidly escalated into physical violence, with rowers engaging in a brawl. Local onlookers and event organisers acted swiftly to intervene, pulling the struggling rowers from the river and restoring order. At least ten individuals sustained injuries during the scuffle.

Organisers later stated that the clash stemmed purely from the heightened adrenaline and competitive tension of the race rather than prior hostility. They confirmed that the situation was brought under control shortly after the dispute broke out.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ullapara Police Station, Mahedi Hasan, confirmed the details of the incident. He stated that both vessels sank following the mid-river impact, though emergency efforts successfully salvaged one of the boats. Operations to recover the second submerged vessel were still ongoing. The police chief added that several injured participants received medical attention, with one individual admitted to the Ullapara Upazila Health Complex for further treatment. Local authorities are monitoring the area to ensure peace is maintained.