UP: 4 Drown, Several Missing After Boat Capsizes In Yamuna River, Rescue Ops Underway

The Chief Minister has directed district administration officials, NDRF & SDRF teams to immediately reach spot & carry out rescue, relief work.

Adityanath expressed grief over loss of lives. (Image: ANI)

At least four people drowned and several went missing on Thursday after a boat full of passengers capsized in Yamuna river en route Marka village from Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur, news agency ANI reported. According to reports, authorities are yet to identify the number of people who were present on the boat. Search and rescue operations are underway.

Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over loss of lives and expressed condolences to bereaved families.

The Chief Minister has directed district administration officials, NDRF & SDRF teams to immediately reach spot & carry out rescue, relief work.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Abhinandan, Superintendent of Police Banda said that the boat capsized due to strong winds. "Till now, 15 people have been rescued safely and 17 are still missing. 3 bodies have been recovered. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the State DRF (SDRF) teams are reaching here and a massive rescue/search operation going on," he said.

Abhinandan said the boat was carrying 30-35 people, adding that help of divers is being taken to trace the missing.

Additional SP Lakshmi Niwas Mishra said seven to eight people swimmed to safety and many are feared drowned. Four bodies have been recovered so far, a senior official said.

Mishra has also asked the officials to ensure that best treatment is provided to the injured. 

Hours after the incident, Awanish Awasthi, ACS Home informed that the boatman has been detained and rescue operation is underway. "The rescue operations will continue at night also. As of now, around 20 people have been rescued and 14-15 are missing. Senior officers are present on the spot," Awasthi told ANI.

In June, four persons, including three of a family, were killed after two vehicles collided on the national highway in Uttar Pradesh's Basti district. The driver of the vehicle also died on the spot.

CM Adityanath had expressed grief over the incident and directed officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured.

Even in May, three persons of a marriage party were killed when an SUV carrying them overturned on the Agra-Kanpur highway. The groom was also injured in the accident.