Safety
13 children die as river boat capsizes on the Ganges in Bihar, India
A boat carrying villagers across the Ganges to a feast capsized midstream in Vaishali district, Bihar, on the evening of 13 October. Thirteen children aged 15 or under died and seven people were rescued.
Source: Baird Maritime (opens in a new tab)
Thirteen children died when a boat capsized on the Ganges River in Vaishali district, in India's Bihar state, at around 20:30 local time on 13 October.
The boat was taking residents of Rampur Shyamchand across the river to a feast in a village on the opposite bank when it overturned midstream in the Raghopur police station area. The district magistrate said all of the victims were aged 15 or younger. Seven people were rescued and taken to hospital in Patna in stable condition.
The number of people on board has not been established. The district magistrate estimated 15 to 20, while the local state legislator put it at about 30. Police are investigating the cause, and local residents blamed overcrowding.
The Bihar government announced assistance of INR400,000 for each victim's family.