At least 11 people, all of them minors, died and several went missing on Tuesday after a boat capsized in the Raghopur Diara area of Vaishali district in Bihar, police said, adding that rescue agencies, led by state and national disaster relief forces, have launched a search operation.
“The news of the innocent lives lost in the boat accident in Raghopur, Vaishali, is extremely heartbreaking and soul-wrenching. In this difficult time, my deepest condolences are with the bereaved families… “People on the boat were heading to join a feast. Seven persons including the boat owner have been saved. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Yadav expressed sorrow over the accident and condoled the deaths. “Tragic and unfortunate news… May God keep everyone safe.
Chief minister Samrat Choudhary condoled the loss of lives in the boat accident and announced financial aid of ₹ 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased. From the state government, financial assistance of ₹ 4 lakh (ex gratia amount) will be provided to the families of the deceased. The accident took place along the Ganga river around 8.30 pm when the country-made boat was ferrying passengers from one hamlet to another near the village of Rampur Shyamchand, under the Raghopur police station jurisdiction, according to police. A senior police officer said around 20 people were on the boat, most of them on their way to attend a feast organised as rituals after the death of a person as per Hindu tradition, popularly known as Shraddh rituals. “There were around 15 to 20 persons on the boat as per our information so far, Out of that eleven persons, all minors around the age of 15, have died.
Initial reports suggested the capsize was caused by an imbalance, however, the actual reason will be ascertained after a probe into the incident, it said. Instructions have been given to the administration to swiftly complete relief and rescue operations and ensure better treatment for the injured,” the CM said in a post on X in Hindi. Officials said some of them swam ashore. Amidst the rising water level and strong currents of the river, the boat suddenly sank into deep water and crashed, causing most of the people to drown,” a police officer said. We are carrying the rescue operations and they would continue all night,” the DM said. A directive has been issued to coordinate with local people, the administration and officials to speed up relief, rescue and treatment operations,” Yadav, who represents the Raghopur assembly constituency, said.
