The Gujarat State Police on Thursday arrested three for “culpable homicide not amounting to murder” in connection with the boat tragedy that claimed the lives of 14 students and two teachers.
The incident occurred on Thursday when a boat capsized in Harni Lake during a school picnic, prompting the registration of an FIR under sections 304 and 308 of the Indian Penal Code against 18 individuals, including partners of Kotia Projects, the company contracted to run Harni Lake Zone by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC).
Deputy Commissioner of Police Panna Momaya confirmed the arrest of the manager of Harni Lake Zone, Shantilal Solanki, and two boat operators – Nayan Gohil and Ankit. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of twelve school students and two women teachers, with the rescue operation concluding on Thursday night.
The FIR outlines criminal negligence on several counts by Kotia Projects, as stated by VMC engineer Rajesh Chauhan. The allegations include non-maintenance of boats, insufficient life-saving equipment, and a lack of life jackets. It was revealed that only a few students were provided with life jackets, and no instructions were given to them, according to the complaint.
Earlier, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Sanghavi pointed out that only ten students on board were wearing life jackets, emphasizing the fault of the organizers. The FIR suggests that due to overload, the boat started swaying and eventually capsized following water ingress from the front side.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the site late on Thursday evening and toured Janvi Hospital and state-run SSG Hospital to meet survivors and the kin of the deceased. Patel actively monitored the rescue operation conducted by personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies, including the local fire brigade.
Expressing condolences on social media, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, "Distressed by the loss of lives due to a boat capsizing at the Harni lake in Vadodara. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. May the injured recover soon." He announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
The Gujarat government has initiated a high-level probe into the incident, directing the Vadodara district collector to submit an inquiry report within 10 days. A notification from the state home department emphasized a detailed investigation into the reasons and circumstances leading to the tragedy. It aims to ascertain whether there was any negligence on the part of the contractor or any official and how such incidents can be prevented in the future.
Chief Minister Patel declared compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Gujarat Education Minister Kuber Dindor announced a probe after learning that the boat was carrying more persons than the stipulated number. He expressed concern that students were not wearing life jackets at the time of the accident and pledged to take action against those found guilty.
A preliminary investigation by authorities revealed that the boat, retrieved from the muddy waters, had only 14 seats, nearly half of the number of persons it was carrying during the tragic incident. As the investigation unfolds, questions regarding safety measures and accountability in public-private partnerships are being scrutinized, amplifying the need for a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances that led to this heartbreaking incident.
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