bihar-boat-tragedy-death-toll-rises-to-13-in-raghopur

The death toll in the boat capsize in Bihar’s Raghopur has risen to 13, with most of the victims identified as minors. Six survivors were rescued and are receiving treatment at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital in Patna.

 

Vaishali District Magistrate Varsha Singh said all the deceased had been identified. The victims include nine girls and four boys. The youngest was a six-year-old boy, while the oldest was a 16-year-old girl.

 

An ex gratia payment of ₹4 lakh each has been provided to the families of those who died. The district administration has also begun an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the incident.

 

The accident took place on the Ganga River on Tuesday evening near Rampur Shyamchand village in Raghopur. Around 20 people were travelling in the private boat to attend a feast when it capsized, apparently after becoming unbalanced. The exact cause has not yet been established.

 

Strong currents and the rising water level made the rescue effort difficult. Some passengers managed to swim to the shore, while local residents began helping those in distress and alerted the administration. Search and rescue teams from the state and national disaster response forces continued operations through the night.

 

Singh said the investigation would examine every aspect of the incident, including how the boatman was able to operate the vessel at night. The administration is also checking the boatman’s background and the circumstances under which the private boat was being used.

 

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed sorrow over the deaths, particularly the loss of several minors. He directed the administration to intensify rescue operations, provide proper medical care to the injured and extend ₹4 lakh in assistance to each bereaved family.

 

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Opposition Leader Tejashwi Yadav also called the incident tragic and unfortunate. In a post on X, he said most of those who drowned were children and urged coordination among local residents, officials and the administration to speed up relief, rescue and treatment efforts.

Yadav represents the Raghopur Assembly constituency, a riverine area in Vaishali district. He is scheduled to visit the accident site after returning from New Delhi.