Patna: A harrowing incident unfolded on Wednesday evening as a boat, packed with passengers, capsized in the Saryu river in Saran district. The accident has claimed the lives of two individuals, while the search continues for seven individuals who remain missing. Local divers have been deployed to aid in the ongoing rescue operation.
According to Aman Sameer, the District Magistrate (DM) of Saran, the ill-fated boat was carrying a total of 19 people, of which 10 individuals managed to escape unharmed. The incident occurred at Matiyar Ghat, approximately at 6 pm.
Preliminary reports suggest that the passengers on board were primarily farmers returning home from Diara after a day of labor. It is believed that the boat became overcrowded, surpassing its intended capacity. As a result, the boat began taking on water, leading to its catastrophic overturning.
The tragedy has claimed the lives of two individuals who have been identified as Phoolkumari Devi and Tara Devi.
In response to the calamity, both State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been summoned to the scene. The Superintendent of Police (SP) and a medical team swiftly arrived at the Manjhi Matiyar area upon learning of the accident. The survivors have been transferred to local hospitals for medical attention.
The boat in question was intended to ferry a total of 19 passengers; however, due to the evening hour and the urgency of travel, all passengers boarded the same vessel (a dinghy). As the journey progressed, the boat began to sway perilously in the river. As water began infiltrating the boat, panic ensued amongst the passengers, ultimately leading to the boat’s capsizing.
The accident triggered immediate chaos at the scene, and residents swiftly gathered to assist in the response effort. At present, the SDRF team has been mobilized, and the concerted rescue operation continues with the help of local individuals, who are contributing their efforts to support the search and recovery mission.
