A boat carrying devotees capsized in the Mahi River near Rajasthan’s Banswara district on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in multiple people missing. The boat was reportedly carrying around 21-25 people, primarily from Madhya Pradesh, who were on a pilgrimage to a temple in Banswara.
The incident occurred near Garhi village, approximately 8 km from Banswara city. Initial reports suggest the boat overturned due to strong currents and potentially being overloaded. The devotees were attempting to cross the river to reach the temple.
Rescue operations were immediately launched by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and local divers. As of the latest reports, nine bodies have been recovered, including those of children. Search efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining missing individuals.
District administration officials are at the scene coordinating the rescue and recovery operations. The exact number of missing people remains unconfirmed due to conflicting reports from witnesses. Authorities are questioning survivors to ascertain the precise number of passengers on board.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed grief over the incident and directed officials to expedite rescue operations and provide all possible assistance to the affected families. He also announced financial assistance for the families of the deceased.
The river’s current is strong due to recent rainfall in the region, complicating the rescue efforts. Divers are facing challenges in navigating the turbulent waters and locating the missing persons. The recovered bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether the boat was operating legally and if safety regulations were followed. Concerns have been raised about the lack of proper safety measures and the potential for overloading of the boat.
