A tragic boat accident in Bihar’s Samastipur district claimed at least three lives after a passenger boat capsized in the Ganga River on Thursday morning. Several others are still missing as rescue teams continue intensive search operations.
According to officials, the boat was carrying 14 passengers when it overturned near Sultanpur Diara in the Mohiuddin Nagar block of Samastipur district.
Authorities confirmed that seven passengers were rescued safely, while teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are searching for the missing individuals.
Officials said the accident occurred around 5:45 am when the passengers were returning from agricultural work in Sultanpur Diara.
The victims were residents of Masoomganj Bind Toli under the Barh police station area in Patna district.
According to local administration officials, the passengers had crossed the river earlier in the day for harvesting vegetables, including pointed gourd (parwal), from agricultural fields in the Diara region.
While returning to Umanath Ghat with harvested vegetables, the boat reportedly encountered strong winds and technical problems in the middle of the river.
Mohiuddin Nagar Circle Officer Brijesh Kumar Dwivedi confirmed that three deaths had been reported, including two men and one woman.
“Seven people were rescued safely, while search operations are still ongoing for the missing passengers,” he said.
Barh Sub-Divisional Officer Garima Lohiya said preliminary reports indicate that the boat’s engine failed midstream before the vessel capsized.
Strong winds in the area may have further worsened the situation, officials added.
The district administrations of Patna and Samastipur launched a joint rescue operation soon after receiving information about the incident.
As news of the accident spread, anxious family members and local residents gathered at Umanath Ghat waiting for updates on the missing passengers.
Police personnel and district administration officials remained at the site to coordinate rescue efforts and complete identification procedures for the recovered bodies.
