Boat with mostly women on board capsizes in Bihar’s Bagmati river, one drowns

The deceased woman was identified as 30-year-old Gulshan Khatun a resident of Khortha village in Khurpatti panchayat of Taryani block in Sheohar district

A boat carrying 25 on board, most of them women, capsized in Bagmati river on Friday, laving one woman dead. Rest of 24 people survived the mishap and were pulled to safety, officials said. The incident occurred near Mahadeva village under Taryani police station area in Sheohar district.

People gather at the river after the boat capsized. (HT Photo)

The deceased woman was identified as 30-year-old Gulshan Khatun a resident of Khortha village in Khurpatti panchayat of Taryani block in Sheohar district.

As soon as the administration was informed about the incident, the rescue and relief operations were launched and divers were able to save all passengers, barring one, said officials. The incident nevertheless created panic on the river bank. they added.

According to officials, the district administration and SDRF teams were continuously mobilised to search for the missing woman. After a search of about five hours, her body was fished out from the river.

According to locals, people have been commuting by boat as there is no bridge over the river in the area.

People of many villages falling in Taryani block, including Motnaje, Mahadeva, Jagdishpur, Kothian and Sharifnagar, usually go to Belsand area of Sitamarhi district across the river for cultivation. Women also cross the river by boat every day to work in the agriculture fields. At around 10.15 am on Friday, mostly women were crossing the river by boat to harvest wheat when the boat lost balance and capsized in the middle of the river near Mahadeva.

Some women swam out, while many were rescued by boatsmen and locals. SDO Avinash Kunal said the NDRF and concerned officials were sent to the spot as soon as the incident was reported. Relief and rescue operations continued throughout.

SDO Kunal confirmed the incident. SDO also assured that government assistance will be provided to the victim’s family after the completion of post-mortem and necessary procedures.