A tragic boat accident in the Ganga River near Umanath Ganga Ghat in Patna on Thursday morning left at least two people dead, while six others remain missing. The boat, carrying around 15 passengers, capsized while crossing toward the Diara area.
According to police, the passengers were travelling across the river early in the morning to collect vegetables from their agricultural fields when the vessel suddenly lost balance and overturned. The exact cause of the mishap is yet to be confirmed.
Locals managed to rescue seven people from the river immediately after the accident. The bodies of two victims were later recovered, while six individuals are still unaccounted for. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as search operations continue.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force, along with local divers, have been deployed to trace the missing persons. The search area has been expanded due to strong river currents, which officials suspect may have carried the missing persons further downstream.
Senior officials, including SDO Garima Lohia and SDPO Ramakrishna, reached the spot to oversee rescue and relief operations. Thousands of local residents and relatives gathered at the ghat after news of the accident spread, creating a tense and emotional atmosphere.
The identification of the recovered bodies is currently underway, while local police and district administration teams are completing necessary legal formalities. Those rescued alive have been provided with first aid.
SDPO Ramakrishna said that preliminary observations suggest overcrowding and strong winds may have contributed to the accident. However, he added that a detailed investigation will be required to determine the exact cause of the boat capsizing.
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