2017 Patna boat accident
 River Ganges in Patna | |
| Date | 14 January 2017 |
|---|---|
| Time | Around 18:00 (IST)[1] |
| Location | Ganges, Patna, Bihar State, India |
| Cause | Overcrowding |
| Participants | 40+ |
| Deaths | 25 |
On 14 January 2017, a boat carrying more than 40 passengers capsized in the Ganges in the Indian city of Patna, Bihar, killing 25 people.[1][2] The boat was about to reach the bank when it capsized.[3] Overloading is suspected to be the cause of the accident.[2]
Incident
[edit]The boat was returning from a kite-flying festival on an island called Ganga Diyara in the middle of the Ganges, as part of the Makar Sankranti celebration in the city of Patna.[3][4][5] The small boat, which was overloaded with passengers,[3] was about to reach the bank when it capsized.[3] The boat's capacity was 30 people, but estimates from local officials placed its actual load at 40 to 50.[6]
Rescue operation
[edit]Rescue operations located 19 bodies on 14 January, and five more on 15 January before they ended once, according to local police, there were no more outstanding missing persons.[6] Nine people were retrieved from the river by rescuers,[5] while about a dozen swam to shore.[6] Eight people were hospitalized[6] at the Patna Medical College and Hospital(PMCH)[5]
Relief
[edit]The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, announced an ex gratia payment from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of those who died in the boat accident and ₹50 thousand for those seriously injured.[1][7] Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also announced that compensation of ₹4 lakh will be given to relatives of each of the dead.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Patna Boat Tragedy: 24 Dead, PM Narendra Modi Announces Compensation". NDTV. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Patna boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 25, PM announces ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh". The Economic Times. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Accident: At least 21 Drown, Several Missing; Nitish Orders Probe". News 18 India. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Patna boat capsize incident: Death toll rises to 21, Rs 4 lakh compensation each to be given to kin of deceased persons". News Nation. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ a b c "Several feared dead in Patna boat accident". The Hindu. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Death toll rises to 24 after India Ganges boat capsize". Reuters. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ "Bihar boat tragedy: PM Modi announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh". The Indian Express. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 2017 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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