Gujarat: Boat Carrying Children Capsizes In Vadodara Lake, Toll Rises To 14

According to the authorities, there were a total of 27 children on the boat at the time of the incident.

According to the authorities, there were a total of 27 children on the boat at the time of the incident. 

Source : ANI

New Delhi: At least 14 people, including 12 schoolchildren and two teachers, died after a boat capsized in the Harni Motnath Lake in Gujarat's Vadodara on Thursday. They were on a picnic when the incident took place, reported PTI.

According to the authorities, there were a total of 27 children on the boat at the time of the incident. A search operation was underway to trace the missing persons, the officials said.

#WATCH | Gujarat: A boat carrying children capsized in Vadodara's Harni Motnath Lake. Rescue operations underway. pic.twitter.com/gC07EROBkh

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2024

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said, "12 children and two teachers died in the incident. Soon after the incident, the Collector, Police Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner & more than 60 jawans of NDRF and Fire Brigade reached the spot immediately...20 people were rescued and 14 people died...To ensure justice to them, CM has ordered a strong inquiry and IPC sections 304, 308 and 114 have been invoked against the accused."

"Two accused have been nabbed and a magisterial inquiry has been handed over to Vadodara District Collector...FIR has been registered and 9 teams have been formed to arrest the accused...PM has announced Rs 2 Lakhs each for the next of kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. State Govt has announced Rs 4 Lakhs each for the next of kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured," he added.

#WATCH | Vadodara boat capsize incident | Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi says, "...12 children and two teachers died in the incident. Soon after the incident, the Collector, Police Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner & more than 60 jawans of NDRF and Fire Brigade reached… pic.twitter.com/8uzPMp4JOu

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2024

He also mentioned that the state government would provide a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the family of the injured.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed his grief over the loss of lives. "The incident of children drowning after the boat capsized in Vadodara's Harani lake is extremely heartbreaking,” he wrote on X.

“I pray for the peace of the souls of the innocent children who lost their lives. My deepest condolences to his family in this hour of sorrow. May the Merciful God give them the strength to bear this sorrow. The rescue operation of the students and teachers on board the boat is currently going on. The authorities have been instructed to provide immediate relief and treatment to the victims of the accident." the chief minister added.

વડોદરાના હરણી તળાવમાં બોટ પલટી જતાં બાળકોના ડૂબવાની ઘટના અત્યંત હૃદયવિદારક છે. જાન ગુમાવનાર નિર્દોષ બાળકોના આત્માની શાંતિ માટે પ્રાર્થના કરું છું.

દુ:ખની આ ઘડીમાં તેમના પરિવારજનો પ્રત્યે આત્મીય સંવેદના વ્યક્ત કરું છું. પરમકૃપાળુ પરમાત્મા તેમને આ દુ:ખ સહન કરવાની શક્તિ આપે.…

— Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) January 18, 2024

President Droupadi Murmu also condoled the loss of lives of the children in the boat accident in Vadodara.

 

"The news of the death of children and teachers in a boat accident in Vadodara, Gujarat is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and wish for the success of the rescue operation," President Murmu posted on X.

गुजरात के वडोदरा में नाव दुर्घटना में बच्चों और अध्यापकों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है। मैं शोक संतप्त परिवारजनों के प्रति गहन संवेदना व्यक्त करती हूं और बचाव कार्य की सफलता की कामना करती हूं।

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 18, 2024

State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel told reporters, "This is a very sad incident. Condolences to the families of those who have died. Action will be taken against those responsible for this incident. 10 people have been rescued. The government has taken the incident very seriously and necessary instructions have been issued."

Vadodara district collector A B Gor said there were 27 children on the boat. “We are trying to trace and rescue others,” he said.

“A boat carrying school students, who came here on a picnic, overturned in Harni lake in the afternoon. The fire brigade has so far rescued seven students, while search is on for the missing ones,” Vadodara’s chief fire officer Parth Brahmbhatt said, reported PTI.