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Bihar Boat Capsize: Rescue Operations End with 13 Minors Dead and Six Rescued
- •Search and rescue operations in Bihar’s Vaishali district concluded on Wednesday, confirming 13 deaths after a boat carrying villagers capsized in the Ganga waters.
- •All the deceased were minors under the age of 15, including nine girls and three sisters from the same family, while six survivors were rescued and admitted to a hospital.
- •The victims were traveling to a nearby area to attend a feast on Tuesday night when the private boat capsized, prompting the district administration to order an inquiry into the incident.
- •Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of each deceased, and leaders from both ruling and opposition parties visited the grieving families.
- •Show cause notices were issued to local police and administrative officers over the dangerous night journey, and authorities have been instructed to identify and ban dilapidated boats in the district.
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A private boat carrying around 20 villagers to a feast capsized in the Ganga river within Bihar’s Vaishali district, resulting in the deaths of 13 minors under the age of 15. Six others were rescued alive and admitted to a hospital with stable conditions.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased individual. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
An official inquiry into the accident has been ordered, and show-cause notices were issued to the Raghopur police station SHO and the concerned Circle Officer for failing to prevent children from undertaking the dangerous night journey. Furthermore, instructions were given to the district magistrate to identify and ban or repair all dilapidated boats across the Vaishali district.
