Bihar: 1 dead, five missing as overloaded boat capsizes in Naugacchia in Bhagalpur district
People gather at the bank of Ganga river at Naugachhia in Bhagalpur on Thursday. ANI Photo
PATNA: At least one woman drowned and five others were missing after an overloaded boat capsized in river Ganga near Darshan Manjhi ghat at Teen Tanga village under Gopalpur police station area of Naugacchia in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar on Thursday.
Gopalpur police station SHO Kunal Anand said that the deceased was identified as Sunaina Devi.
Anand said that the body of Sunaina Devi, 34, who was a native of Teen Tanga village, was handed over to her family after post-mortem and the process has been initiated to disburse Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia for next to the kin of the deceased woman.
The SHO said that those missing included four women and a minor child, who were also from Teen Tanga village.
“They were last spotted boarding the boat. They are feared drowned by villagers, but we can’t comment until their bodies are fished out from the river,” he said.
The SHO said that altogether 17 persons, including children and women, who were on the boat, had reached the primary health centre of Gopalpur for treatment after capsizing.
“Of the 17, five had been sent home after initial treatment. The rest are still under observation,” he said, adding, the incident took place at around 8.30am.
Naugacchia SDPO Dilip Kumar said that the boat had an actual capacity to load around 150 persons.
“Only 50 to 60 persons were present on the boat when it capsized. Rest of the boat was loaded with fertilisers and other agricultural items which the villagers were taking to the riverine belt of Ganga from the village which is a routine affair for them. It was actually these additional items which had overloaded the boat,” he said, adding, capsizing took place just at the ghat.
The SDPO said the boat that was pushed at the bank by a few people when it’s opposite side in the river took on water and capsized. He said the boat was not a licensed one and was being plied by a villager.
Bhagalpur DM Pranav Kumar said a search and rescue operation is going on at the spot. “The administration is trying to trace the missing persons,” he added.
Gopalpur police station SHO Kunal Anand said that the deceased was identified as Sunaina Devi.
Rescue operation under way. ANI
Anand said that the body of Sunaina Devi, 34, who was a native of Teen Tanga village, was handed over to her family after post-mortem and the process has been initiated to disburse Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia for next to the kin of the deceased woman.
An injured person being treated at a primary health center. ANI
The SHO said that those missing included four women and a minor child, who were also from Teen Tanga village.
“They were last spotted boarding the boat. They are feared drowned by villagers, but we can’t comment until their bodies are fished out from the river,” he said.
The SHO said that altogether 17 persons, including children and women, who were on the boat, had reached the primary health centre of Gopalpur for treatment after capsizing.
“Of the 17, five had been sent home after initial treatment. The rest are still under observation,” he said, adding, the incident took place at around 8.30am.
Naugacchia SDPO Dilip Kumar said that the boat had an actual capacity to load around 150 persons.
“Only 50 to 60 persons were present on the boat when it capsized. Rest of the boat was loaded with fertilisers and other agricultural items which the villagers were taking to the riverine belt of Ganga from the village which is a routine affair for them. It was actually these additional items which had overloaded the boat,” he said, adding, capsizing took place just at the ghat.
The SDPO said the boat that was pushed at the bank by a few people when it’s opposite side in the river took on water and capsized. He said the boat was not a licensed one and was being plied by a villager.
Bhagalpur DM Pranav Kumar said a search and rescue operation is going on at the spot. “The administration is trying to trace the missing persons,” he added.
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