Bihar boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 13, most victims minors; probe underway

The death toll in a boat capsize on the Ganga in Bihar’s Raghopur area has risen to 13, with nine girls and four boys among the victims, officials said. Most of those who died were minors, with the youngest victim a six-year-old boy and the oldest a 16-year-old girl.

Vaishali district magistrate Varsha Singh confirmed that all the deceased had been identified and that the families had received ex gratia payments of ₹4 lakh each. Six survivors have been rescued and are undergoing treatment at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital in Patna.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening when a private boat carrying around 20 people capsized in the river. Some passengers managed to swim to safety, while others were swept into the water.

Boatman’s role under investigation

Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the tragedy, including how the boat became unbalanced and why it was operating at night.

“All the aspects of how the tragedy occurred are being probed. The administration is also probing how the boatman who ferried the passengers at night managed to operate his boat. It was a private boat, and we are looking into his background,” Singh said.

Officials believe the vessel may have capsized because of an imbalance, but the exact cause remains unclear. The boat was carrying people travelling to attend a feast when it suddenly went into deep water amid rising river levels and strong currents.

Local residents who witnessed the incident began rescue efforts before informing the administration. Teams from state and national disaster response forces subsequently joined the operation, which continued throughout the night.

Chief minister announces compensation

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the deaths, describing the loss of young lives as heart-wrenching and saddening in a post on X.

He announced compensation of ₹4 lakh for each bereaved family and directed the administration to continue rescue efforts and ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical treatment. The district administration has confirmed that the compensation has been disbursed to the families of the deceased.

Tejashwi Yadav to visit accident site

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav also described the incident as tragic and unfortunate. In a post on X, he said most of those who drowned were children and called for coordination between local residents, the administration and officials to speed up rescue, relief and medical assistance.

Yadav represents the Raghopur Assembly constituency, which includes riverine areas in Vaishali district. He is scheduled to visit the site after returning from New Delhi.

The administration’s investigation into the capsize and the circumstances surrounding the private boat’s operation is continuing.