Tragedy / Ganga River Boat Tragedy Claims 13 Lives

Patna, Oct 14: A routine boat journey turned into a devastating tragedy in Bihar’s Vaishali district on Tuesday, when a vessel carrying villagers to a feast capsized in the Ganga River, leaving at least 13 dead reportedly all children.

Officials said between 15 and 20 people were aboard the vessel when it capsized. Around half a dozen were injured, while several others were rescued. The injured were rushed for medical treatment as rescue teams continued searching for those still missing.

The accident triggered panic in the area, with local residents joining the administration in immediate rescue efforts. District police officials and a team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were dispatched to assist.

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Vaishali District Magistrate Varsha Singh confirmed that “most of the deceased were minors.” Search operations remain underway to establish the full circumstances of the accident.

Political leaders expressed grief over the incident. Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav described it as “an unfortunate incident” in a social media post. He said he had spoken with residents and officials, urging them to expedite rescue operations and ensure prompt medical care for the injured. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also conveyed condolences, calling the tragedy “tragic and heartbreaking.” He added, “I pray for peace for the deceased.”

The state government announced ex‑gratia assistance of ₹4 lakh for the family of each victim. Officials have been directed to speed up rescue and relief operations and guarantee proper medical care for survivors.

Rescue efforts and investigations are continuing, with authorities working to confirm the final casualty count and determine what led to the boat’s capsizing.

(IANS)