Boat capsizes in Yamuna River: A boat ferrying pilgrims capsized in the Yamuna River near the bustling Keshi Ghat on Friday noon, claiming the lives of nine persons. Officials said dozens of passengers are still feared missing, and an extensive search operation has been initiated to trace them.
As per officials, the incident unfolded at Keshi Ghat, a prominent hub for evening prayers and boat rides frequented by pilgrims and tourists. As per preliminary reports, the overcrowded vessel, ferrying devotees believed to be from Punjab, lost balance and overturned in the river’s deep waters.
While the exact number of passengers on board remains unclear, officials confirmed that as many as 22 persons have been rescued so far and have been rushed to nearby hospital for treatment.
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A visual from the spot[/caption]
Boat capsizes in Yamuna River: Massive rescue operation launched
Officials said that teams from local police, divers and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed to the site with immediate effect on receipt of the information. Rescue efforts, however, have been impeded by fading daylight and the strong current of the river.
Mathura’s Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) Suresh Chandra Rawat said that multiple police response vehicle units were mobilised to transport survivors to medical facilities. He said, “We are assessing how many are safe and how many have lost their lives,” adding that search operations persist to locate those still unaccounted for.
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NDRF searching for missing persons[/caption]
Cause behind capsize under probe
Initial reports suggest that ongoing repair work on a nearby pontoon bridge may have triggered the incident. Authorities said that the structure was in a deteriorated state and was under maintenance at the time. SP Rawat said, “It is suspected that the mishap could be linked to this repair work.”
As of now, emergency services remain stationed at the site as rescue operations continue into the night. Officials are persevering in efforts to establish the precise sequence of events and confirm the final death toll.
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