Bihar boat mishap: Several children missing after boat capsizes in Muzaffarpur

New Delhi: As many as 16 children are said to be missing after a boat carrying school kids overturned in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district on Thursday morning. Rescue work began soon after the mishap. Till last reports, about 17 children were rescued by the team. At the time of mishap, more than 30 students were said to be on board.

The incident happened near Madhupur Patti Ghat along the Bagmati River of Muzaffarpur district. The rescue teams have intensified their efforts to locate about 16 children who went missing after the overturning of boat.

#WATCH | Boat carrying school children capsizes in Bagmati river in Beniabad area of Bihar’s Muzaffarpur pic.twitter.com/TlHEfvvGYy

— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2023

According to a police official, there were 34 students on the boat when it overturned while on way to school. Deputy superintendent of police (East) Shahriyar Akhtar told the newsmen that the overloading of boat was apparently the reason behind accident.

The boat is regularly used by the locals to cross the river here.

The incident reportedly happened at around 9.45 AM. Jairam Kumar, a local resident said that some women and school children were seated on the boat and were being ferried to other side of the river. The children are mostly said to be in the age group of 8 to 14.

Meanwhile, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar assured full assistance in the relief & rescue efforts. He was in Muzaffarpur to attend a function, when the mishap happened.

#WATCH | “DM Muzaffarpur is investigating the incident. The families of those affected in this accident will be provided assistance by the government,” says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

“The incident took place between 1030-11 am today. Teams of NDRF and SDRF rushed to the accident… pic.twitter.com/RjN093hhms

— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2023

The Chief Minister instructed the DM to undertake detailed search operation and also provide adequate compensation to mishap victims & bereaved families, if any.