2017 Patna boat accident
River Ganges in Patna
Date14 January 2017
TimeAround 18:00 (IST)[1]
LocationGanges, Patna, Bihar State, India
CauseOvercrowding
Participants40+
Deaths25

On 14 January 2017, a boat carrying more than 40 passengers capsized in the Ganges in the Indian city of Patna, Bihar, killing 25 people.[1][2] The boat was about to reach the bank when it capsized.[3] Overloading is suspected to be the cause of the accident.[2]

Incident

The boat was returning from a kite-flying festival on an island called Ganga Diyara in the middle of the Ganges, as part of the Makar Sankranti celebration in the city of Patna.[3][4][5] The small boat, which was overloaded with passengers,[3] was about to reach the bank when it capsized.[3] The boat's capacity was 30 people, but estimates from local officials placed its actual load at 40 to 50.[6]

Rescue operation

Rescue operations located 19 bodies on 14 January, and five more on 15 January before they ended once, according to local police, there were no more outstanding missing persons.[6] Nine people were retrieved from the river by rescuers,[5] while about a dozen swam to shore.[6] Eight people were hospitalized[6] at the Patna Medical College and Hospital(PMCH)[5]

Relief

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, announced an ex gratia payment from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of those who died in the boat accident and ₹50 thousand for those seriously injured.[1][7] Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also announced that compensation of ₹4 lakh will be given to relatives of each of the dead.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Patna Boat Tragedy: 24 Dead, PM Narendra Modi Announces Compensation". NDTV. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Patna boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 25, PM announces ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh". The Economic Times. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Accident: At least 21 Drown, Several Missing; Nitish Orders Probe". News 18 India. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Patna boat capsize incident: Death toll rises to 21, Rs 4 lakh compensation each to be given to kin of deceased persons". News Nation. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "Several feared dead in Patna boat accident". The Hindu. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Death toll rises to 24 after India Ganges boat capsize". Reuters. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "Bihar boat tragedy: PM Modi announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh". The Indian Express. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.

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