New Delhi: At least 10 people were killed and several others feared missing after a boat carrying a group of devotees capsized in the Yamuna river in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura on Friday afternoon. According to preliminary accounts from witnesses, the accident appears to have occurred after the vessel collided with a pontoon. Officials said the incident took place near Kesi Ghat when one of the two boats carrying about 25 to 30 people suddenly sank.“At around 3:15 p.m., a boat accident occurred at the Yamuna River pontoon. Based on the accounts provided by witnesses so far, preliminary judgment shows that the cause of the accident seems to be that the boat hit the pontoon, causing the accident.” 10 bodies have been found at the spot,” Mathura DIG Shailesh Kumar Pandey told ANI.Rescue teams including firefighters, police, local divers and boaters are conducting search operations at the scene.“Fire and police teams as well as local divers and boaters are actively involved in relief and rescue operations here. Teams of NDRF and SDRF have also started from their respective bases and are expected to reach the spot soon. The search is on for all missing persons…,” Pandey added.Some people have been rescued and transferred to hospitals while efforts are underway to assess their conditions and find those who are still missing.Anupama Kulshreshtha, deputy director general of Agra district, said: “The rescue operation is underway… There are about 25 to 27 people on the boat. The exact number is not yet known. Thirteen people have been rescued during the rescue operation. Ten people were found dead, including five men and women.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident, saying he was “deeply anguished by the capsizing of a boat in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh”.“I express my condolences to those who have lost loved ones. I pray for a speedy recovery for the injured. The local government is assisting those affected,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a news release.UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed condolences, saying “the loss of life in the tragic boat capsizing incident in Mathura district is deeply saddening and heartbreaking.”“I express my condolences to the families of the victims. I have instructed the officials concerned to rush to the scene immediately and carry out rescue operations to ensure that the injured receive proper treatment,” the CM posted on X.He added: “I pray to Lord Sriram to bring eternal peace to the departed souls, strength to the grieving families to bear the immense grief and speedy recovery to the injured.”
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Earlier in the day, another boat accident was reported from Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh, where a boat capsized in the Narmada river, police said. Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai said the accident occurred while the pilgrims were circling the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga. However, all 10 pilgrims on board were rescued safely.
