13 children dead as boat capsizes in Bihar's Ganga river
- Last updated: October 14, 2026 | 12:02
Rescuers dragged out 13 dead children from India's Ganges river after an overloaded boat capsized en route to a Hindu festival, officials said on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing grief over the "deeply painful" tragedy.
The boat overturned late Tuesday in Vaishali district in northeastern 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.
"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.
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.
According to an earlier report, at least 11 people, including eight children, died after a boat carrying passengers capsized in the Ganga River in Bihar’s Vaishali district on Tuesday.
The accident occurred near Rampur Shyamchand village under the Raghopur police station area while the passengers were reportedly travelling to attend a feast.
Around half a dozen people were also reported injured, while rescue teams continued searching the river for anyone who might still be missing.
The exact number of people on board and the final casualty count are subject to official confirmation.
According to preliminary information, between 15 and 20 people were aboard the boat when it overturned in the river.
The accident triggered panic, prompting local residents and the administration to launch rescue efforts.
Several passengers were rescued, and the injured were taken for medical treatment.
District police officials and a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were dispatched to the site to assist with the operation.
Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, expressed sorrow over the tragedy in a social media post, describing it as an unfortunate incident.
Yadav said he had spoken with local residents, administrative officials and other authorities, urging them to expedite rescue operations and ensure prompt medical treatment for the injured.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also expressed grief over the deaths, describing the incident as tragic and heartbreaking.
He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for peace for the deceased.
The state government has announced ex-gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the family of each deceased person.
Officials have also been directed to speed up rescue and relief operations and ensure appropriate medical care for those injured.
Rescue efforts and the investigation into the accident are continuing.
Further details are awaited as the administration works to confirm the number of victims and determine the circumstances that led to the boat capsizing.
Agencies