Sitamarhi / Patna : A devastating accident on the Bagmati river in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district claimed the lives of a woman and her two-year-old daughter on Friday morning, while another young child remains missing. The family had been returning home when they fell into the river while attempting to board a boat at Akhta Ghat, Supi police station area.
According to police, the victims—Nazmi Khatoon and her daughters—were accompanied by her husband Mohammad Tauseer. The family had been returning on a motorbike from a religious gathering in Bairgania, when they reached the river crossing at Akhta Ghat. As they attempted to board a boat with the motorbike, they lost balance and all four fell into the fast-flowing river.
Local residents responded quickly, diving in to rescue the family, and were soon joined by police and rescue teams. While the bodies of Nazmi and her toddler daughter, Naira, were recovered, the search continues for five-year-old Tauseer Khatoon. Mohammad Tauseer managed to swim to safety, but was reportedly inconsolable at the scene.
“This man watched his family disappear in front of him,” said a witness. “He’s in no state to speak.”
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the safety of makeshift boat crossings that remain a lifeline for residents in many parts of rural Bihar. Locals have long complained about the lack of regulated ferry services and safety protocols.
Authorities have launched a full-scale rescue operation, deploying divers to search for the missing child and promising support for the grieving family. “We are doing everything we can,” said a local official. “The safety of our citizens is paramount.”
