Hajipur, Bihar: At least 13 people are feared dead after a boat carrying approximately 35 to 40 passengers capsized in the Ganga river in Bihar’s Vaishali district late Tuesday evening. The incident took place near Rampur village in the Raghopur area, the assembly constituency of Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav.
According to local reports, the passengers were travelling to attend a ‘mrityu bhoj’ (death feast) when the vessel overturned. Early assessments from the ground indicate that children make up a significant portion of the casualties. While a few passengers managed to swim to safety, several others remain missing in the strong river currents.
Local residents were the first to initiate search efforts before the district administration and police arrived at the spot. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was quickly pressed into service to trace the missing persons. Ambulances were deployed to the riverbank, and the rescued individuals were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals for medical care.
Though the district administration is yet to release a final official death toll, the tragedy has triggered panic and mourning in the affected village.
Political leaders across the state expressed their shock and grief over the incident. Tejashwi Yadav issued a statement confirming his active monitoring of the situation. “Received the unfortunate and tragic news of a boat capsizing in the Raghopur diara area. Most of those who drowned are children. May God keep everyone safe. I have spoken to local people, the administration, and officials, directing them to expedite rescue, relief, and treatment operations,” Yadav stated.
The Bihar Congress called the incident heart-wrenching. In a statement posted on social media, the party said, “The news of the death of children in the tragic boat capsize in the Ganga river in Raghopur is extremely sad and painful. In this hour of grief, our deepest condolences are with the bereaved families.”