The search continued into Tuesday night for 26-year-old Nasir Alam, an East Hartford man caught in the Farmington River during a flash flood.
“Oh my gosh, I hope they weren’t out there when it hit because that would have scared the heck out of me,” said Cindy Casella, Farmington.
It was a nasty thunderstorm that struck in a matter of minutes with dark clouds, strong winds, and torrential rain adding to an already swollen Farmington River. Caught in the middle of it, seven people on inter tubes with no life jackets.
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“First couple of minutes no problem, but when they got down to the Collinville Bridge, which is a problem area, and that is where all seven of them ended up in the water,” said Lt. Collin Ryan, Farmington police.
A witness says he was looking out his window and heard some screaming coming from the river. He ran out and saw a girl up to her waist in the river screaming for help. He then ran back in and called 911.
“The six that made it out of the water had bumps, bruises and scrapes. They did get out of the water but refused medical treatment,” said Ryan.
Alam disappeared into the rapids. His friends never saw him come up.
Another woman disappeared in the same area just a few miles up river in New Hartford. She went missing over the weekend.
“When you look out there and you see the river and you know someone is out there, it’s unbelievable. And, it’s sad to know there will be guys out there who are putting their life on the line to have to find them. You have to think about the family right now,” said Ryan Goralski, Farmington.
Firefighters say the river was even too rough to send out one of their rescue boats. They would have had to shoot a line across the river and send a man out on that line.
Alam’s family has been notified and Farmington police ask anyone with information to contact them at 860-675-2400.
The search will resume Wednesday morning if conditions improve.
