NEW DELHI: At least four passengers have reportedly drowned and 17 others went missing on Thursday after a boat capsized in the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda, police said.
The boat said to be on its way to Marka village from Fatehpur in UP when the incident occurred. Twenty people from the boat have been rescued while about 17 passengers are still missing, a senior official said.
The official said that the boatman has been detained and the rescue operation is underway. According to him, three dead bodies have also been recovered and that the rescue operation will continue throughout the night.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expresses grief over the incident. “The accident in Yamuna river in Banda, Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. The local administration under the supervision of the state government is actively engaged in relief and rescue work,” the PMO tweeted.
उत्तर प्रदेश के बांदा में यमुना नदी में हुआ हादसा हृदयविदारक है। इस दुर्घटना में जिन्होंने अपनों को खोया है, उनके प्रति मैं अपनी शोक-संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूं। राज्य सरकार की देखरेख में स्थानीय प्रशासन राहत और बचाव के काम में पूरी तत्परता से जुटा है: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 11, 2022
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Abhinandan said the boat which was carrying 30-35 people, capsized due to strong winds. The incident took place when the boat was travelling from Marka to Jarauli Ghat in Fatehpur district in Uttar Pradesh, police said.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath condoled the loss of lives and directed senior officials of the district administration to reach the spot and supervise relief and rescue operations.
जनपद बांदा अंतर्गत यमुना नदी में नाव हादसे में हुई जनहानि अत्यंत दु:खद व दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है।
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) August 11, 2022
मेरी संवेदनाएं शोक संतप्त परिजनों के साथ हैं।
संबंधित अधिकारियों को तत्काल मौके पर पहुंचकर बचाव व राहत कार्य संचालित करने और घायलों का समुचित उपचार कराने के निर्देश दिए हैं।