Gujarat boat tragedy: 12 students, 2 teachers dead, 20 rescued; 2 arrested
The state govt has announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh each to the next of kin of deceased and ₹50,000 help for the injured.
Twelve students and two teachers died after a boat capsized in Harni Lake on the outskirts of Vadodara city in Gujarat on Thursday (January 18), while 18 students and two teachers were rescued, state minister Harsh Sanghavi said.
Earlier, the PSO of Harni police station had put the toll at 16, comprising 14 students and two teachers. Those on board the ill-fated boat were on a picnic when the tragedy occurred in the afternoon.
"Twelve students and two teachers died in the boat capsizing incident. A total of 18 students and two teachers were rescued. We have learnt only 10 students on board were wearing life jackets. It proves organisers were at fault," Gujarat Minister of State for Home Sanghavi told reporters.
An FIR under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered and two persons have been arrested, Sanghavi informed.
Teams have been formed to nab other culprits, he added.
Officials told The Federal that the boat was carrying more passengers than its capacity and none of the passengers was given a life jacket.
This is the second-highest casualty count since the Morbi bridge collapse incident in 2022 in which 135 people including 54 children were killed.
MP assures of strict action
Vadodara MP Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt said strict action will be taken against whoever is responsible for the mishap. The rescued students have been taken to different hospitals, the MP said. The boat was loaded beyond its capacity.
Earlier, Gujarat Education Minister Kuber Dindor said, "I have just learnt that six children died after a boat carrying school students overturned in a lake." "Rescue operations are underway. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the fire brigade personnel are on the job along with other agencies," he said.
Vadodara district collector AB 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.
Few local residents rescued some children before the fire brigade personnel reached the spot, he said.
PM Modi, CM Patel condole deaths
“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 ₹2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” Prime Minister's Office issued a statement.
Chief minister Bhupendra Patel expressed condolences to the families of the children who lost their lives. "The incident of children drowning after the boat capsized in Vadodara's Harni lake is extremely heartbreaking. I pray for the peace of the souls of the innocent children who lost their lives. My deepest condolences to their families 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 system has been instructed to provide immediate relief and treatment to the victims of the accident," the chief minister posted on X.
(With inputs from agencies)
