Vadodara Boat Accident Tragedy: Overloaded Boat Capsizes, Claiming Lives
A tragic incident unfolded on Thursday near Vadodara in Gujarat, where a boat carrying 27 students and teachers on a picnic capsized in Harni Lake. Shockingly, 16 lives, including those of 14 schoolchildren and two teachers, were lost. The boat, meant for 16 passengers, was overloaded, leading to the devastating accident.
The chief minister, Bhupendra Patel, and education minister, Kuber Dindor, promptly responded, mobilizing NDRF and fire brigade teams for the search and rescue operation. Fortunately, 10 children were rescued, but the rest, unfortunately, did not survive the mishap.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed profound sorrow, pledging compensation of ₹4 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. He urged swift relief and treatment for the victims.
Extremely saddened by the tragic incident in Vadodara, Gujarat, where six school students lost their lives as a picnic boat overturned in a lake. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. May the departed souls rest in peace.
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Expressing grief over the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office announced financial assistance. A heartfelt statement from PM Modi conveyed condolences to the affected families and outlined relief measures, including an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Local heroes played a crucial role, rescuing some children before the official teams arrived. Vadodara MP Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt assured strict action against those responsible, emphasizing that the boat was loaded beyond its capacity.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge joined in expressing condolences and urging the Gujarat government to expedite rescue efforts.
The incident involved students from New Sunrise School in Panigate, who embarked on a lakeside picnic at around 4.30 pm. The boat, designed for 16 occupants, had 27 on board, raising questions about safety measures. The exact details, such as the use of life jackets, remain unclear.
As the rescue operation continued into the evening, the focus shifted to providing immediate relief and support to the victims and their families. The entire nation mourns this heartbreaking loss, standing in solidarity with those affected by this unfortunate tragedy.
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