Vadodara: At least 13 schoolchildren and two teachers on picnic died after the boat they were in overturned in a lake on the outskirts of Vadodara city in Gujarat on Thursday.
A search operation is underway to trace the remaining students, officials said. According to the inputs received from the spot, children and teachers of New Sunrise School had come to Harni Motnath Lake here for a picnic. At around 4:30 pm, the boat with 23 students and four teachers capsized leading to the tragedy.
After receiving information about this incident, officials of Vadodara Corporation and Fire Department reached the lake and started the search and rescue operation on war footing. Sources said the boat was overcrowded and had the carrying capacity for just 14 people.
Gujarat Education Minister Kuber Dindor said, "I have just learnt that several 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 A B 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. A large number of people including parents of school children reached the incident site. The search operation is still going on to find the children and teachers missing. The NDRF team is also engaged in the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, President Draupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed sorrow over the tragic incidents. "The news of the death of children and teachers in a boat accident in Vadodara, Gujarat is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and wish for the success of the rescue operation," the President said in a post on X.
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गुजरात के वडोदरा में नाव दुर्घटना में बच्चों और अध्यापकों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है। मैं शोक संतप्त परिवारजनों के प्रति गहन संवेदना व्यक्त करती हूं और बचाव कार्य की सफलता की कामना करती हूं।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 18, 2024 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">गुजरात के वडोदरा में नाव दुर्घटना में बच्चों और अध्यापकों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है। मैं शोक संतप्त परिवारजनों के प्रति गहन संवेदना व्यक्त करती हूं और बचाव कार्य की सफलता की कामना करती हूं।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 18, 2024गुजरात के वडोदरा में नाव दुर्घटना में बच्चों और अध्यापकों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है। मैं शोक संतप्त परिवारजनों के प्रति गहन संवेदना व्यक्त करती हूं और बचाव कार्य की सफलता की कामना करती हूं।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 18, 2024
"Profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of precious lives, including children and teachers, in a boat capsize incident at Harni Lake, Vadodara, Gujarat. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families during this difficult time," the Vice President said in his post on X.
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Profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of precious lives, including children and teachers, in a boat capsize incident at Harni Lake, Vadodara, Gujarat. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families during this difficult time.
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) January 18, 2024 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of precious lives, including children and teachers, in a boat capsize incident at Harni Lake, Vadodara, Gujarat. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families during this difficult time.
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) January 18, 2024Profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of precious lives, including children and teachers, in a boat capsize incident at Harni Lake, Vadodara, Gujarat. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families during this difficult time.
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) January 18, 2024
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