Children are among the dead after a boat capsized near Raghopur in Bihar’s Vaishali district
A boat capsized in the Ganga near Rampur Shyamchand village in Bihar’s Vaishali district on October 13, killing at least 13 children aged below 15. Rescue teams continued searching for missing passengers, while the Centre and Bihar government announced financial assistance for affected families.
Patna: At least 13 people have died, with some reports putting the toll at 14, after a boat capsized in the Ganga River near Rampur Shyamchand village in Bihar’s Vaishali district on Tuesday evening. Most of the victims were reportedly children. Search and rescue operations continued as authorities worked to locate those still missing.
The incident occurred around 8 pm within the jurisdiction of Raghopur police station. According to reports, villagers were travelling by boat to attend a feast in a nearby village across the river. The boat overturned while they were returning.
Initial reports said around 15 to 30 people were aboard. Some passengers managed to swim to safety, while others were pulled from the river by local residents and rescue teams. Several survivors were taken to hospital for treatment.
Recent rainfall and rising river levels were mentioned in the initial report. Authorities launched search and rescue operations, with district officials and emergency teams overseeing the response.
Prime Minister Announces Rs.2 Lakh Ex-Gratia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the tragedy. He announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased person. Those injured in the accident will receive Rs. 50,000 each, according to reports.
Bihar Chief Minister Announces Rs.4 Lakh Compensation
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced financial assistance of Rs. 4 lakh to the family of each deceased person. He offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished them strength during the difficult time.
Tejashwi Yadav Expresses Grief
Raghopur MLA and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav expressed condolences over the incident and prayed for the safety of those still missing.
In an update, Yadav said 14 bodies had been recovered, six injured people had been admitted to hospital and three survivors had reached safety. He also indicated that several passengers remained unaccounted for. However, district officials’ reported death toll differed, with some updates placing it at 13. Rescue efforts were continuing.
