Vadodara: In a heart-wrenching tragedy, 12 children and 2 teachers who had gone on a school picnic lost their lives after a boat capsized in Harni Lake on the outskirts of Vadodara on Thursday.
The boat, with seating capacity of 16, was overloaded with 27 persons.
According to eyewitnesses, the students and teachers New Sunrise School were not wearing life jackets.
Following the mishap, which took place around 4.30 pm, the Fire brigade launched a search operation. Till the evening, bodies of 7 students had been recovered.
“A boat carrying school students, who came here on a picnic, overturned in Harni lake in the afternoon. The fire brigade has so far rescued seven students, while a search is on for the missing ones,” PTI quoted Vadodara’s chief fire officer Parth Brahmbhatt as saying.
Local MLA Shailesh Mehta blamed the tragedy on the boat contractor.
“It was the boat contractor’s fault. There were more people on the boat than its capacity. The government will be asked to take strict action against the contractor,” he said.
ANI posted a video clip of the search operation:
#WATCH | Gujarat: A boat carrying children capsized in Vadodara’s Harni Motnath Lake. Rescue operations underway. pic.twitter.com/gC07EROBkh
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2024
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel cancelled his appointments and left for Vadodara. He also announced a solatium of Rs 4 lakh for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for families of the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office issued a statement, announcing a sum of Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for families of the injured.
“Distressed by the loss of lives due to a boat capsizing at the Harni lake in Vadodara. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000,” a statement from PMO said.
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