At least thirteen children died after a small private boat overturned on the Ganga in the Raghopur police station area of Bihar's Vaishali district on Tuesday night. The passengers were travelling to a nearby village for a feast, according to local accounts and the district administration.

Vaishali District Magistrate Varsha Singh said thirteen bodies had been recovered. She said 7 people were rescued and taken to Nalanda Medical College and Hospital. Some of those rescued were later referred to Patna for better treatment.

Singh said the children on the boat were aged fifteen or younger. She also said information received by the administration indicated that between fifteen and twenty children had been travelling in a small private boat when the accident occurred at night 8:30.

What happened on the Ganga

Local residents said the feast was being held at the home of a man named Singheshwar Rai near Mata Maharani Sthan in Bhagatan Tola, within Rampur Shyamchand panchayat. The group was travelling from one village to another for the event.

Ravi Yadav, a local resident who said he reached the site with other villagers, told ANI that the boat sank after it developed a crack. He said villagers carried out the first rescue effort and managed to save only two or 3 people.

Yadav claimed that the administration was informed but that official assistance arrived after an hour. He said no ambulance or National Disaster Response Force team reached the site at that time, adding that the team arrived in the morning.

The account of the local residents differs from the district administration's description of the response. Officials said 7 people had been rescued, while residents criticised the time taken for government assistance to arrive. The available information does not establish the reason for the delay.

Questions over hospital facilities

When Singh reached a local hospital to assess the situation, people present there raised slogans against the district administration. Yadav also questioned the arrangements for treating those brought to the hospital.

He alleged that the facility did not have a ventilator, stretcher or oxygen cylinder. He said more children might have survived if an oxygen cylinder had been available. These remarks were presented as his account of the hospital's condition and were not independently established in the available material.

The administration said the rescued people were receiving treatment. Some were sent to Patna for better medical care, according to Singh.

Compensation announced

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed sorrow over the incident and announced assistance of 4 lakh rupees for the families of each person who died. He also directed the administration to complete relief and rescue work quickly and provide better treatment to the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of 2 lakh rupees from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the nearest relatives of each person who died. Those injured will receive fifty thousand rupees.

Raghopur legislator and Bihar Assembly Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav also expressed grief in a video message. He said he was in Delhi for an INDIA alliance meeting and would travel to Patna before visiting his assembly constituency and meeting affected families.

Conclusion

The confirmed account records thirteen deaths and seven rescues after the Ganga boat capsized in Raghopur. Authorities are treating the rescued people, while local residents have raised questions about the response and hospital facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where did the boat capsize?

The accident occurred on the Ganga in the Raghopur police station area of Vaishali district, Bihar.

Q. When did the accident happen?

District Magistrate Varsha Singh said the accident happened on Tuesday night at night 8:30.

Q. How many people were rescued?

7 people were rescued and taken for medical treatment. Some were referred to Patna for better care.

Q. How much assistance will the families receive from the Bihar government?

The Bihar government announced 4 lakh rupees for the family of each person who died.

Q. What assistance did the Prime Minister announce?

The Prime Minister announced 2 lakh rupees for the nearest relatives of each person who died and fifty thousand rupees for those injured.

Q. Who carried out the initial rescue effort?

Local residents said villagers reached the site first and carried out the initial rescue effort.