At least 11 people, most of them minors, died after a boat overturned in the Ganga river in Bihar's Vaishali district on Tuesday evening, officials said. Several more passengers were reported missing, and search and rescue operations continued through the night.
Tragedy strikes during a festive journey
The accident took place near Rampur Shyamchand village in the Raghopur Diara area when the boat, ferrying passengers between two riverside villages, lost its balance and capsized midstream. Most of those on board were headed to attend a feast in a nearby village as part of post-funeral rituals, according to officials.
The exact number of people aboard remains unclear. While initial reports suggested 25 to 30 people were on the vessel, a district administration official said the boat owner had claimed 15 to 20 passengers were present. Seven people, including the boat owner, were rescued.
Compensation announced, investigation ordered
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the deaths and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each deceased person. He said the administration had been instructed to expedite relief operations and ensure proper treatment for the injured.
District Magistrate Varsha Singh dispatched State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to the site. Local residents who witnessed the incident rushed to help and alerted the administration. The district administration noted that boat operations at night were restricted and said the circumstances surrounding the accident would be investigated.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Raghopur MLA Tejashwi Yadav also expressed condolences and urged the administration to expedite rescue operations.
Note on figures: most reports citing officials put the death toll at 11; the District Magistrate told PTI the toll had risen to 13, while Tejashwi Yadav said in a video posted on X that 14 bodies had been recovered. The article reports the lower, widely cited figure pending a final official count.
Sources:
- 11 minors die as boat capsizes in Ganga in Bihar's Vaishali — The Indian Express
- 11 killed as boat capsizes in Bihar's Vaishali, most victims minors — Firstpost
Tragedy strikes during a festive journey
The accident took place near Rampur Shyamchand village in the Raghopur Diara area when the boat, ferrying passengers between two riverside villages, lost its balance and capsized midstream. Most of those on board were headed to attend a feast in a nearby village as part of post-funeral rituals, according to officials.
The exact number of people aboard remains unclear. While initial reports suggested 25 to 30 people were on the vessel, a district administration official said the boat owner had claimed 15 to 20 passengers were present. Seven people, including the boat owner, were rescued.
Compensation announced, investigation ordered
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the deaths and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each deceased person. He said the administration had been instructed to expedite relief operations and ensure proper treatment for the injured.
District Magistrate Varsha Singh dispatched State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to the site. Local residents who witnessed the incident rushed to help and alerted the administration. The district administration noted that boat operations at night were restricted and said the circumstances surrounding the accident would be investigated.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Raghopur MLA Tejashwi Yadav also expressed condolences and urged the administration to expedite rescue operations.
Note on figures: most reports citing officials put the death toll at 11; the District Magistrate told PTI the toll had risen to 13, while Tejashwi Yadav said in a video posted on X that 14 bodies had been recovered. The article reports the lower, widely cited figure pending a final official count.
Sources:
- 11 minors die as boat capsizes in Ganga in Bihar's Vaishali — The Indian Express
- 11 killed as boat capsizes in Bihar's Vaishali, most victims minors — Firstpost
