At least 10 children are feared drowned after a boat capsized in the Bagmati river in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, under the Gaighat Police Station. According to media reports, around 20 people have been rescued, but several are still missing. The boat was carrying around 30 people, most of whom were schoolchildren, when the tragedy struck near the Madhupur Patti ghat in the Beniabad area, reported news agency PTI. However, the exact number of passengers on the boat is yet to be clarified.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar immediately ordered an inquiry into the incident. "The District Magistrate of Muzaffarpur is investigating the incident. The families of those affected in this accident will be provided assistance by the government," he said.
"The incident occurred between 10.30 AM and 11 AM today [Thursday]. Teams of NDRF and SDRF rushed to the accident site," Muzaffarpur DM Pranav Kumar said.
Locals from the area have also joined in the search and rescue efforts. According to them, there were a few women on the boat as well, but there is no official confirmation yet. Various witnesses accounts stated that the boat was crowded and the current in the river was too strong, which led to the accident.
DSP East Sahariyar Akhtar said that the incident is being investigated. "Around 25 to 30 people were on board the boat. The number of people on the boat will be known only after the arrival of everyone's family members. About 20 people have been evacuated so far," he said.
Locals said that children of classes 9 and 10 were on the boat. They said there was no other means to cross the river. "Boat is the only means," they said. There was a protest on the spot after the incident regarding the safety of people.
(With inputs from Abhishek Kumar.)