Eleven people drowned and six were rescued early on Friday after two boats carrying them and Ganesh idols capsized at the Lower Lake of Bhopal, said Collector Tarun Kumar Pithode.
“First, one of the boats capsized near the Khatlapura Ghat, from where idols are immersed. Then, the other one capsized too, as those in it may have tried to rescue them,” he said.
While those rescued were in a stable condition, the bodies of the deceased were taken to the Hamidia Hospital in the city for post-mortem, said Mr. Pithode.
Meanwhile, State Law and Legal Affairs Minister P.C. Sharma said, “The incident is unfortunate. An investigation will be done into it.”
Mr. Pithode announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 would be given as immediate relief.