Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered for an enquiry after a boat carrying more than 30 people including students capsized at Madhurpatti Ghat in Beniwad OP area of Muzaffarpur, Bihar on Thursday morning. The calamity has thrown the entire region into chaos, with the fate of many children hanging in the balance. Though 20 students have been rescued but the rest of the people are still missing.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who was in that region only reacted promptly to the tragic incident, expressing his concern and issuing directives to the District Magistrate (DM) to launch a thorough investigation into the matter. “"We have given orders to the DM regarding the Muzaffarpur boat accident. The DM is looking into the matter. The victim's family will be helped."
The ill-fated boat, laden with innocent youngsters, was navigating the river when disaster struck. News of the boat accident quickly spread throughout the area, prompting a frenzied response from the local populace. The incident sent shockwaves through the village, leaving residents in a state of panic and disbelief.
Amidst the turmoil, several children managed to escape the sinking boat by swimming to safety. However, as the hours passed, the desperate search for the missing children intensified. Local authorities wasted no time in mobilizing rescue efforts, with teams from the Beniabad OP Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rushing to the scene. Expert divers were also deployed in a bid to locate and save any trapped children.
The entire community held its collective breath, fervently hoping for the safe rescue of the missing children and their swift reunion with their anguished parents. The families of the young victims were plunged into a state of deep anxiety, fearing the worst while praying for a miracle.
The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, with questions surrounding overloading and adherence to safety regulations taking centre stage. It is a grim reminder that, in many cases, boat operators prioritize financial gains over safety by carrying more passengers than their vessels can safely accommodate. The ongoing investigation seeks to determine the exact circumstances that led to this devastating accident and apportion responsibility accordingly.
The precarious state of Bihar's rivers, exacerbated by heavy rainfall and water release from neighbouring Nepal, has heightened the risk of such incidents. Rivers like the Bagmati have surged beyond their danger levels, posing significant challenges to residents. Tragically, in flood-affected regions, even school children are forced to navigate these treacherous waters, placing their lives in jeopardy for the sake of education.
