Bihar Ganga Tragedy: 13 Children Drown as Hole-Ridden Boat Capsizes, Probe Ordered

At least 13 children drowned after a boat capsized in the Ganga in Bihar’s Vaishali district, with reports pointing to a hole in the old vessel and possible overloading as investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The accident occurred around 8.30 pm on Tuesday in the Raghopur area, around 70 kilometres from the district headquarters, when residents of Rampur Shyamchand village were crossing the river to attend a feast in a neighbouring village. The boat was reportedly carrying 15 to 20 people, most of them children, although the exact number of passengers remains unclear.

District Magistrate Varsha Singh said 13 bodies had been recovered. The deceased were initially reported to be under 15 years of age. However, subsequent reports differed on the death toll and victims’ ages. Rescue operations continued, with local divers assisted by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Reports also mentioned the involvement of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Survivor figures varied across reports, with six or seven people reported rescued and some passengers possibly still missing.

An investigation is examining reports that the boat was old and in a dilapidated condition, with a large hole reportedly found in it. Possible overloading is also under scrutiny, but the cause of the accident has not been conclusively established.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced ₹4 lakh compensation for each deceased person’s family and directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an additional ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for each deceased person’s next of kin and ₹50,000 for each injured person.

The district administration also reportedly ordered the salaries of the local Circle Officer and the Raghopur station house officer to be withheld and sought explanations following the tragedy.

RJD leader and Raghopur MLA Tejashwi Yadav said he had spoken to the administration, urged faster rescue operations and promised to visit the bereaved families after returning from Delhi.

The tragedy has raised questions about boat safety, vessel maintenance, passenger capacity and accountability for river transport in the region.