Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Oct 14: Several leaders from Bihar's ruling and opposition parties visited Raghopur in Vaishali district after a boat capsized, killing 13 children, while the district administration ordered the withholding of salaries of the local Circle Officer (CO) and Station House Officer (SHO) over possible lapses in safety arrangements.
The private boat capsized near Rampur Shyamchand Panchayat at around 8.30 pm on Tuesday. The deceased included nine girls and four boys.
Six other people, including two adults and four children, were rescued and taken to Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH) in Patna for treatment.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, accompanied by Minister Ramkripal Yadav, visited the affected families and assured them that appropriate action would be taken.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai also visited the accident site and met the bereaved families. He described the incident as deeply tragic, expressed condolences and prayed for peace for the departed souls and strength for the grieving families.
RJD MP from Pataliputra Misa Bharti visited Raghopur and met the affected families. Speaking to the media, she described the tragedy as a failure of the government and criticised the district administration over alleged shortcomings in rescue operations and medical facilities.
RJD National Working President and Raghopur MLA Tejashwi Yadav demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident. He said he and party workers had been in contact with officials since Tuesday night and alleged that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams had not reached the spot when his party's team first arrived.
Tejashwi said he had spoken to the Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management Department and the District Magistrate. He also expressed concern over reports that some bodies were still missing and demanded substantial financial assistance for the affected families, arguing that the announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh for each deceased person was insufficient.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan also visited the bereaved families and offered condolences. He said he would convey details of the incident to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
Paswan said officials had been directed to conduct a thorough inspection of boats, including their safety, passenger capacity and the availability of essential safety equipment. He added that anyone found responsible for negligence would face action.
Describing the incident in Raghopur Diyara as a tragedy that had deeply shaken the community, Paswan stressed the need for accountability.
Bihar Health Minister Nishant Kumar visited NMCH to meet the children rescued from the accident. He said 13 people had died and six survivors had been brought to the hospital. Three children were admitted and were receiving treatment, he added, confirming that an inquiry had been ordered.
Vaishali District Magistrate Varsha Singh said the six survivors, comprising two adults and four children, had been rescued safely and were undergoing treatment at NMCH. She said the administration had responded immediately after receiving information about the accident.
“The boat was privately registered, and action would be taken against its owner and those involved in its operation,” she said.
Following the incident, the district administration sought explanations from the Raghopur CO and SHO over possible negligence in safety arrangements. Their salaries have been withheld until further orders while the administration examines the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The District Magistrate visited the site, reviewed the rescue operation and directed officials to expedite the search efforts and ensure proper medical care for the survivors.
SDRF teams continued search and rescue operations in the area. The administration is also examining the circumstances in which the privately registered boat was operating at night, including concerns over passenger safety and its carrying capacity.
Further action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.