Patna Boat Tragedy: 3 Dead, 4 Missing After Boat Capsizes in Ganga

At least three people have died and four others remain missing after a boat capsized in the Ganga river near Patna on Thursday morning, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation by district authorities and disaster response teams.

The incident occurred around 5.45 am near the Barh subdivision area , when a group of villagers from Masumganj Bind Toli under Barh police station limits were returning from the Diara region after crossing the river for agricultural work. The boat, carrying around 14 passengers , overturned midstream under what officials suspect were strong winds and difficult river conditions.

According to initial inputs from the district administration , the boat lost balance suddenly while returning, leading to panic among passengers. Some reports also indicate that overloading and possible mechanical issues may have contributed, though authorities have not confirmed the exact cause and a detailed investigation is underway.

Soon after the incident, local villagers and boatmen rushed to the spot and managed to rescue seven passengers alive . However, three persons were declared dead after their bodies were recovered from the river. Their identities are being verified by officials.

Search operations are continuing for the four missing persons , with teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) , local police, and district administration units from both Patna and Samastipur engaged in the effort. Divers have been deployed and boats are combing a wider stretch of the river, as strong currents are feared to have carried the missing persons further downstream.

Senior officials have reached the site and are supervising rescue operations. Authorities have expressed concern over the challenging river conditions, noting that strong winds and fast flowing water are hampering search efforts.

The incident has cast a shadow of grief over nearby riverbank villages, where families of the missing are waiting anxiously for updates. Officials have assured that rescue operations will continue until all missing persons are traced, while also promising a thorough inquiry into the circumstances that led to the tragedy.