NEW DELHI: A boat carrying a group of devotees capsized in the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura on Friday afternoon leaving at least 10 people dead, while several others are feared missing. According to preliminary accounts from witnesses, the accident appears to have occurred after the boat collided with a pontoon bridge. Officials said the incident took place near Kesi Ghat when one of two boats carrying around 25–30 people suddenly sank.
“At approximately 3.15 pm, a boat accident took place on the Yamuna River, at the site where a pontoon bridge is located. The prima facie cause of the collision, based on accounts provided by witnesses so far, appears to be that the boat crashed into the pontoon bridge, leading to the accident. Ten dead bodies have been recovered from the site,” Mathura DIG Shailesh Kumar Pandey told ANI.Rescue teams, including fire services, police personnel, local divers and boatmen, are engaged in search operations at the site.“Teams from the Fire Services and the Police, along with local divers and boatmen, are all actively engaged in relief and rescue operations here. Teams from the NDRF and SDRF have also departed from their respective bases and are expected to arrive at the scene very shortly. A search is currently underway for all individuals who remain missing…” Pandey added.Several people have been rescued and shifted to hospitals, while efforts are underway to assess their condition and trace those still missing.“Rescue operations are underway… Around 25-27 people were on the boat. The exact number remains unknown. 13 people have been saved in the rescue operation. 10 people were found dead, including 5 men and women each,” ADG Agra Zone Anupama Kulshreshtha said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident, saying he was “deeply pained by the mishap due to the capsizing of a boat in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.”“My condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is assisting those affected,” the prime ministers office posted.UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed condolences stating that the, “loss of lives in the tragic boat capsizing incident in Mathura district is profoundly distressing and heart-rending.”“My condolences are with the bereaved families. I have directed the concerned officials to reach the site immediately, conduct rescue and relief operations, and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured,” the CM posted on X.“I pray to Lord Shri Ram that he grant eternal peace to the departed souls, strength to the grieving families to bear this immense sorrow, and a swift recovery to the injured,” he added.
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Earlier in the day, another boat incident was reported from Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district, where a vessel capsized in the Narmada river, police said. The accident occurred while pilgrims were performing the circumambulation of the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai said. However, all 10 pilgrims on board were rescued safely.
