Vaishali/Patna: A boat accident in Bhagtan Tola, under Rampur Panchayat in Raghopur block of Vaishali district, has left 13 children dead but it also has a story of brave 14-year-old Chandni, who survived and helped rescue two other people. She could, however, not save her own 14-year-old sister Pinky Kumari.
Three children affected by the incident are undergoing treatment at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) in Patna. Two of them were reported to be in critical condition but stable following medical intervention, hospital sources said.
The accident occurred when residents of Bhagtan Tola were travelling by a small country-made boat, locally known as a dengi, to attend a shraddha bhoj (funeral feast) following the death of a 16-year-old differently-abled girl, identified as the daughter of Sineshwar Rai.
According to locals, the boat was crossing a water-filled depression created by rainwater and the overflow of the Ganga. The distance between the two banks was around 200 metres when the accident occurred.
Sister Survives, Helps Rescue Two
Pinky, daughter of Doman Rai, died in the accident, while Chandni also fell into the water but managed to save herself and assist in rescuing two others.
Doman Rai is at NMCH, where his seven-year-old grandson, Kartik Kumar, and five-year-old grandson, Putus Kumar, are receiving treatment. Anushka, his 11-year-old niece, was also affected by the incident and remains under medical care.
The family is coping with Pinky’s death while anxiously awaiting the recovery of the children.
“I have lost one of my three daughters, while other children from the family are fighting for their lives in hospital,” Doman Rai said, describing the family’s grief.
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Two Children Develop Pneumonia Symptoms
According to Dr Akhilesh Kumar, head of the paediatrics department at NMCH, Anushka and Putus Kumar were placed on oxygen support in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
The two children developed symptoms of pneumonia after contaminated water entered their lungs during the drowning incident. Doctors also observed that their kidneys had been affected. Following medical intervention, both were reported to be stable.
Seven-year-old Kartik Kumar, who was admitted to the emergency ward, has shown significant improvement. Doctors said all the children remain under close medical supervision.
Medical professionals noted that oxygen deprivation during drowning can lead to complications affecting different organs.
Six Brought To NMCH After Accident
Hospital Superintendent Dr Rajiv Ranjan Sinha and Deputy Superintendent Dr P D Verma said six people were brought to NMCH by the Vaishali administration following the accident.
Of them, Kartik, Putus and Anushka continue to receive treatment. Chandni was discharged after her condition improved.
Two other victims, Satyendra Rai, 48, and Virendra Kumar, 55, were also treated at the hospital and discharged on Thursday morning.
Hospital sources said another teenager, aged around 15, was brought for treatment but had died on the way to the hospital.
The tragedy has cast a pall of gloom over Bhagtan Tola, where the family continues to mourn Pinky while hoping for the recovery of the children receiving treatment in Patna.
