New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was distressed to know about the loss of lives in the tragic boat capsize incident in Gujarat's Vadodara and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.


16 persons, including 14 students and two teachers, died after a boat carrying 27 students, who were on a picnic, capsized in a lake on the outskirts of Vadodara city in Gujarat on Thursday.


"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. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," he wrote on X.


An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured, he said.


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.





A search operation was underway to trace the missing persons, the officials said.


"Till now, 14 children and two teachers have died in the tragedy. One student, who was rescued, is undergoing treatment at SSG Hospital," said an official of the Harni Police Station, reported PTI.