Gujarat: At least 16 people, including 14 children and two teachers were killed after a boat capsized in Harani Lake, Vadodara, Gujarat on Thursday. According to the authorities, there were 23 children and four teachers on the boat when the incident took place. The rescue team rescued five kids from the lake as the rescue operation was underway. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi reached the spot to review the search operation in the lake.
According to the sources, the capacity of the boat was for 14 people but there were more than 30 people on the boat and only 14-15 people wore life jackets.
"One of the two teachers who died was not even on the boat. Seeing the dead bodies of the children, the teacher collapsed on the spot," they said.
"Soon after the incident, the Collector, Police Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner & more than 60 jawans of NDRF and Fire Brigade reached the spot immediately. To ensure justice, 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 the 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," said the Gujarat Home Minister.
PM also announces ex-gratia for the victims
"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," PMO quoting PM Modi posted on X.
Police register case against five accused
A complaint was registered against five accused under sections 304, 308 and 337 of the Indian Penal Code at Harni police station. The police have taken custody of some people including the main accused.
Gujarat CM also announces financial support
Earlier, the Gujarat Chief Minister expressed his condolence after the tragic incident on X. He also announced exgratia for the victims' families.
"The incident of children drowning after the boat capsized in Vadodara's Harani lake is extremely heartbreaking. 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 posted on X.
A boat carrying 23 students, who were on a picnic, overturned in a lake on the outskirts of Vadodara city, officials said.
A search operation is underway to trace the remaining students at the Harni lake, where the incident happened, they said.
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 23 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 Harani lake in the afternoon. The fire brigade has so far rescued five students, while the search is on for the missing ones," Vadodara's chief fire officer Parth Brahmbhatt said.
Few locals rescued some children before the fire brigade personnel reached the spot, he said.
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