The death toll in the Vrindavan boat tragedy has risen to 16 after the body of the last missing pilgrim was recovered from the Yamuna River, police confirmed on Thursday.
According to Superintendent of Police (Rural) Suresh Chandra Rawat, the body of Pankaj Malhotra (40), a resident of Jalalabad in Punjab’s Fazilka district, was found beneath the Panighat bridge following an extensive search operation that lasted nearly a week. Search teams had been combing the river and surrounding areas since the incident, using boats and divers to locate the missing individuals.
With the recovery of Malhotra’s body, authorities said all pilgrims reported missing after the accident have now been accounted for. Malhotra, who was employed as a manager at a steel factory in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra, had travelled with a group of pilgrims from Jagraon in Ludhiana to visit the holy town.
Officials stated that a total of 16 pilgrims lost their lives in the tragedy, while eight others sustained injuries. The injured were admitted to nearby hospitals and have since been discharged after treatment.
The accident took place on April 10 near the famous Keshi Ghat when the overcrowded boat, carrying pilgrims on the Yamuna, capsized after colliding with a pontoon structure. Eyewitnesses reported that the impact caused panic among passengers, leading to several of them falling into the river.
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In the aftermath of the incident, rescue operations were immediately launched by local authorities, with assistance from disaster response teams and volunteers. The operation continued for several days due to strong currents and limited visibility in parts of the river.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry to determine the exact cause of the accident. Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Pankaj Kumar Verma has been tasked with investigating possible lapses in safety measures, including whether the boat was overloaded or if proper navigation protocols were followed.
Authorities said the inquiry will also examine the condition of the vessel, adherence to safety regulations, and accountability of those responsible, with the aim of preventing such tragedies in the future.
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