20 dead, probe ordered in Patna boat accident

The rescue operation is underway and will continue on Sunday morning.

The SDRF team rescuing a passenger of a boat which capsized midstream in river Ganga in Patna.

A boat carrying several people capsized midstream in river Ganga on Saturday evening in Patna. The district magistrate Sanjay Agrawal said the dead bodies of 20 people have been fished out from the river Ganga for now.

“We’ve recovered 20 dead bodies and rescued nine people…nine other passengers had swam to safety…the injured persons have been admitted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital”, Patna DM told  The Hindu .

The rescue operation is underway and will continue on Sunday morning, he added. "The incident happened as the boat appeared to be over crowded with those who had gone across the river to enjoy the Makar Sankranti festival," added the district magistrate. 

The state government had organised three-day kite festival on the occasion of Makar Sankranti across the river Ganga.

A rescue boat searching to people after overcrowded boat capsized at Ganga river in Patna on Saturday.

 

 

The state government, meanwhile, has announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each person who have lost their live in the incident.

A probe has also been ordered by the state government. The ruling party Janata Dal(United), has cancelled its programme of Makar Sankranti which was to be held on Sunday.  Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav too has expressed deep condolence over the incident and said “probe has been ordered to see how it happened”.

The teams of State Disaster Rescue Force and National Disaster Rescue Force have been pressed into rescue operations.