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Gujarat: A total of 16 people, including 14 children and two teachers, who were on a picnic, died after a boat capsized in Harni Lake in Vadodara, Gujarat. According to the authorities, there were 23 children and four teachers on the boat when the incident happened, none of whom were reportedly wearing life jackets.
After receiving information about the incident, the fire brigade has launched a search operation for the students. The rescue team rescued five kids from the lake as the rescue operation was underway. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi reached the spot to review the search operation in the lake.
Vadodara’s chief fire officer Parth Brahmbhatt said,”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.” According to the sources, the capacity of the boat was for 14 people but there were more than 30 people on the boat and only 14-15 people wore life jackets.
They said,”One of the two teachers who died was not even on the boat. Seeing the dead bodies of the children, the teacher collapsed on the spot.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the families of the injured.
Vadodara MLA Shailesh Mehta said, “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.” A complaint was registered against five accused under sections 304, 308 and 337 of the Indian Penal Code at Harni police station. The police have taken custody of some people including the main accused.
Giving details about this incident, the Gujarat Home Minister said,”Soon after the incident, the Collector, Police Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner & more than 60 jawans of NDRF and Fire Brigade reached the spot immediately. To ensure justice, CM has ordered a strong inquiry and IPC sections 304, 308 and 114 have been invoked against the accused. Two accused have been nabbed and a magisterial inquiry has been handed over to Vadodara District Collector…FIR has been registered and 9 teams have been formed to arrest the accused. PM has announced Rs 2 Lakhs each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. State Govt has announced Rs 4 Lakhs each for the next of kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.”
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said in a post on X that he has cancelled his appointements and would leave for Vadodara. The chief minister posted on X,”The incident of children drowning after the boat capsized in Vadodara’s Harani lake is extremely heartbreaking. I pray for the peace of the souls of the innocent children who lost their lives. My deepest condolences to his family in this hour of sorrow. May the Merciful God give them the strength to bear this sorrow. The rescue operation of the students and teachers on board the boat is currently going on. The authorities have been instructed to provide immediate relief and treatment to the victims of the accident.”
