Patna, October 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The death toll in the boat capsize incident in Bihar’s Vaishali district has risen to 13, including eight children, prompting condolences from state ministers and other NDA leaders as rescue teams continued searching the Ganga River for missing passengers on Wednesday.
The boat overturned near Rampur Shyamchand village under the Raghopur police station area on Tuesday. The passengers were reportedly travelling to attend a feast when the accident occurred.
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav described the incident as tragic and urged Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav to visit Raghopur, his constituency, to meet the affected families and offer condolences.
“Raghopur is the Leader of the Opposition’s constituency. The incident is tragic, and he should visit the area to express condolences to the affected families, as he is their representative. I believe he is somewhere outside and will return soon,” Yadav said.
BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi also expressed grief over the loss of lives, particularly the deaths of children, and said the government had announced financial assistance for the affected families.
Saraogi said an investigation would examine why the boat was operating at night and that action would be taken against those found responsible.
JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan described the incident as heartbreaking, saying the loss of children had caused irreparable grief to their families.
He said Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary had announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each deceased person. Financial assistance would also be provided to the families of those injured, he added.
Preliminary information suggests that between 15 and 20 people were aboard the boat when it capsized. Around half a dozen people were also reported injured, although the exact number of passengers and the final casualty figures remained subject to official confirmation.
Rescue operations continued on Wednesday, with State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams deploying six boats to search the river. Local residents joined the efforts, using ropes tied to wooden logs and bamboo poles to help retrieve bodies.
The damaged boat, which was reportedly repaired temporarily using plastic sheets, has been recovered.
The accident triggered panic in the area, with residents and local authorities mobilising rescue efforts. Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances leading to the capsize, including the boat’s condition, the number of passengers aboard and why it was operating at night.
The administration’s search for missing passengers and efforts to assist affected families continued as the tragedy prompted demands for accountability and a thorough investigation.
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