One held for Ballia boat tragedy

A man has been arrested for illegally operating the boat that capsized in the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, drowning 61 people, police said today.

A man has been arrested for illegally operating the boat that capsized in the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, drowning 61 people, police said on Friday.

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Contractor Banar Dubey had not taken the mandatory approval from the Zila Parishad (district council) to operate the boat from the Ujwalia bank of the river in Ballia district, some 300 km from Lucknow.

Dubey was arrested late on Thursday from Haldi area in Ballia. "A case of criminal negligence has been filed against him," police inspector Arvind Mishra told reporters in Ballia.

Those in the boat were going midstream to perform rituals related to a ceremony of their children. The dead included 23 children.

"Dubey was illegally operating the boat for several months," Mishra said.

Police are yet to arrest the boatman, Harivansh, who escaped after the accident.