Patna – Rescuers dragged out 13 dead children from India’s Ganges river after an overloaded boat capsized en route to a Hindu festival, officials said Wednesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing grief over the “deeply painful” tragedy.
The boat overturned late Tuesday in Vaishali district in eastern Bihar state, with locals rushing to pull people out of the water in the dark using mobile phones to find the bodies.
“It was dark when we suddenly heard children screaming and crying for help as the boat capsized,” Ravi Yadav, a young villager who joined the rescue effort, told AFP.
“We managed to rescue only three children, using the light from mobile phones and torches, because it was dark.”
Villager Ramlakhan Rai said the boat was “small” and “not in good condition”, saying people were crammed onto a vessel suitable for just a handful.
Raghopur, Patna: Grief-stricken family members mourn the deaths of 13 children after a boat carrying around 20-25 children capsized in the Ganga River on Tuesday night. https://t.co/wHbSit3FpX
— IANS (@ians_india) October 14, 2026
“It is devastating — a few families have lost all their children,” he said.
Six people were pulled out alive, including two children reported to be in critical condition.
Medic Nirmal Kumar, from the local health centre, said four children and two adults were sent to the district hospital.
“We tried our best to revive them… but 13 were already dead,” Kumar said.
And Today it happened 🙏💔
How long will the Bihar government continue to ignore illegal boat transport?
Either provide year-round road connectivity or strengthen inland waterways with proper safety measures.
Today, 13 children aged 15 or below died in a boat tragedy in Vaishali. How many more lives must be lost before the government acts? 🤬
— Radio India 🇮🇳 (@Radio_India_) October 14, 2026
Vaishali district magistrate Varsha Singh told AFP 13 bodies had been recovered.
“The loss of lives in the boat capsizing incident in Vaishali, Bihar is deeply painful,” Modi said in a statement on Wednesday, announcing compensation for their families.
“My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this difficult time.”
Boat accidents are common on Indian waterways, often blamed on overcrowding, poor enforcement of safety norms and inadequate life-saving equipment.
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Source: AFP
