At least 24 people, including minors, died after a boat ferrying 40 capsized in the Ganga river in Bihar’s Patna. Many were rescued and the rescue operation resumed on Sunday morning.
Six people have been admitted in the Patna Medical College and Hospital.
People had gathered at Patna’s Ganga Diara to witness a three-day kite festival, organised by the state government, which is held every year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The vessel, which had taken people for a free ride from the ganga ghat, was reportedly overcrowded and capsized at around 6 pm, NDTV reported.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been pressed into relief and rescue operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of those deceased in the boat tragedy and Rs 50, 000 for those seriously injured in the incident.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has ordered inquiry into the boat tragedy. A three member inquiry team has been constituted headed by Principal Secretary of State Disaster Department Pratya Amrit, Indian Express reported.
State government has also announced ex gratia of rupees four lakh for the family of deceased.
NDRF Director General R K Pachnanda told ANI that three NDRF personell were at the site to recover more bodies and the rescue operation is underway.
“21 bodies have been recovered so far, search and rescue operation is underway. 3 NDRF teams are at the spot. We are trying our best. We have deported three teams for the operation. It is extremely tragic incident. People were taking boats one after another. When the people realised that their boat was capsizing they tried to jump to the other boat then both the boats capsized due to over load,” Pachnanda was quoted by ANI as saying.
Following the incident, further festivities in Ganga Diara area have been called off.
