At least 13 children died after a boat capsized in the Ganga River near Rampur Shyamchand village in Bihar’s Vaishali district. Rescue teams searched for missing passengers as villagers raised concerns over the boat’s condition and possible overloading.
At least 13 children died after a boat carrying passengers capsized in the Ganga River near Rampur Shyamchand village under the Raghopur police station area of Bihar’s Vaishali district on Tuesday evening. Rescue operations were launched following the tragedy, with authorities continuing efforts to locate passengers who may still be missing.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, particularly after reports emerged that seven of the deceased children belonged to the same family. The loss has turned the accident into a devastating tragedy for the affected family and the village.
According to preliminary reports, around 20 to 30 people were travelling by boat to attend a feast in a neighbouring village. The group was crossing the Ganga and a nearby low-lying, waterlogged area locally known as a dhab when the accident occurred.
The boat reportedly lost its balance after entering the main current of the river and suddenly overturned, throwing passengers into the water. The incident triggered panic among those on board, while cries for help drew the attention of people living nearby.
Local residents were among the first to reach the spot and attempt to rescue the passengers. District administration officials, police personnel and teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) subsequently joined the rescue operation. Local divers also assisted in searching the river for missing people.
Several children were reportedly travelling on the boat when it capsized. However, the exact number of passengers on board remained uncertain in the initial reports. Authorities were working to establish the total number of people who had undertaken the journey and determine whether anyone was still unaccounted for.
The tragedy also triggered anger among residents, who staged protests against the district administration. Villagers alleged that the boat was old and in poor condition and claimed that requests for its replacement had previously been submitted to the authorities without any action being taken.
Residents also expressed concern that the boat might have been carrying more passengers than its permitted capacity. If confirmed, overloading could emerge as an important factor in determining the circumstances surrounding the accident.
However, the allegations regarding the boat’s condition, its passenger capacity and the circumstances leading to the capsizing had not been independently established. The exact cause of the incident remained subject to investigation.
The accident has once again drawn attention to the risks associated with river crossings in areas where boats are used to connect villages and access neighbouring settlements. Such journeys can become particularly dangerous when vessels are poorly maintained, passenger limits are exceeded or strong river currents affect their stability.
For the families affected by the tragedy, the loss has been especially painful, with seven children reportedly belonging to one family among those who died. The incident has left residents grieving while rescue personnel continue efforts to account for everyone who may have been aboard.
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Authorities are expected to establish the precise circumstances of the accident as information becomes available from the rescue operation and investigation. The priority remains locating any missing passengers, confirming the number of victims and determining what led to the boat overturning in the Ganga.
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The tragedy has intensified calls from villagers for greater attention to boat safety, proper maintenance of vessels and effective monitoring of passenger capacity to help prevent similar accidents in the future.
