Hajipur (Bihar), Oct 13 At least 13 people died after a boat carrying more than 20 passengers capsized in the Ganga river in Bihar’s Vaishali district on Tuesday evening, officials said.
Sources said most of those on the ill-fated boat were children.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who represents the Raghopur Assembly constituency where the incident occurred, claimed in a video posted on X that 14 bodies have been recovered so far. He claimed the boat had 30 passengers, and six were sent to a hospital while three were safe.
However, Vaishali District Magistrate Varsha Singh told PTI that “thirteen people have died while six were rescued after the boat capsized in the Ganga river in Raghopur”. The rescue operation was underway, she added.
Officials said the incident occurred as residents of Rampur Shyamchand village were on their way to attend a feast in a village across the river.
Tirhut Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Chandan Kumar Kushwaha said divers as well as personnel of the local police and the state disaster management force have been deployed for the search and rescue operation.
“The rescue operation is ongoing under the supervision of Vaishali District Magistrate Varsha Singh and Superintendent of Police Shubhankar Mishra,” he said.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the “loss of so many innocent lives” and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each deceased.
Yadav, the leader of the opposition in the Bihar Assembly, in an X post said, “Most of those who drowned are children. Have urged the local administration to expedite rescue and relief operations.
“I have spoken to the district magistrate and the secretary of the disaster management department, urging them to send as many rescue teams as possible to the spot,” the RJD leader said and promised to meet the bereaved families soon after returning from Delhi.
(PTI News)
