A major accident was averted in Bihar's Purnia on Wednesday, October 17, when people were crossing a river on a boat made of thermocol. The incident took place in the Aamour police station area of the district. Around 14-15 people were standing on the boat when it capsized in the middle of the Das river.
The villagers had reportedly gone to attend a funeral at around 11 AM on Wednesday, when the thermocol boat capsized, unable to bear the weight of the people and children standing on it. Fortunately, everyone on board the boat is safe.
The villagers had to use this makeshift boat as there are no bridges in the area, posing problems for them in transportation.
According to media reports, Jamil, a resident of the Bhagtahir village, had died suddenly and it was not possible for his relatives to bury his body in the nearby cemetery due to floods. Therefore, they had decided to take his body to Haripur cemetery via the river for cremation. Although they managed to cross the river somehow with the body and buried their relative, they drowned in water while returning.
The boat was right in the middle of the river when it went out of control and started to sink. All the people were thrown into the river as the thermocol boat capsized. However, people tried to bring it to the shore with the help of a rope and those who knew who to swim also reached the shore.
The incident was recorded by the people on the other side of the river. The video is now going viral on social media, sparking anger against the administration as people are forced to resort to thermocol boats in the absence of transportation facilities.