Boat Capsizes in West Bengal, One Dead, 12 Missing

As the NDRF carries out rescue operations, violent protests occurred in Nadia district against the administration.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carries out a rescue operation in Burdwan, after a boat capsized overnight. (Photo: PTI)

• Bodies of 12 persons, including a child, have so far been fished out from river Bhagirathi where an overcrowded boat sank on Saturday night.
  

• Burdwan district magistrate Saumitra Mohan revealed that bodies of seven men, four women and a girl child were recovered during search operations since Sunday night, in the latest rescue operation.
  

• The bodies were found within 1-1.5 km radius of the spot where the overcrowded boat had capsized, he said. Photographs of the bodies have been sent to Kalna and Shantipur police stations to enable their relatives to identify them.

Rescue operations are being hampered by night hours, which make deep diving difficult. (Photo: PTI) 

The incident has sparked violent protests in the Nadia district, during which several boats were torched. To control the mob, the police had to resort to firing tear gas and lobbing rubber bullets.

The boat, ferrying at least 55 people above its capacity, overturned in the water last night as the people were on their way back to Shantipur, from a fair at Kalna in the Burdwan district.

A body of a 35-year-old woman passenger has been recovered near Shantipur, according to Vijay Bharti, the District Magistrate of Nadia.

Rescuers from the Disaster Management Group, civil defence and private divers, besides two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been pressed into service to find those missing.

Rescuers of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) prepare their boats for rescue operation. (Photo: PTI) 

As per our initial reports, it appears that the carrying capacity of the boat was around 45. But around 15-20 more people jumped onto the boat, breaking the police cordon at the ghat. Over 150 rescue workers in multiple teams are employed in the search operation.

Saumitra Mohan, District Magistrate, Burdwan District 

Police chasing irate villagers who were protesting over the alleged delay in rescue of the capsized boats in Nadia district. (Photo: PTI) 

The main cause of the incident is being stated as overloading. Though nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident, a case has been lodged against the authorities in charge of the ferry services, on the ground of negligence.

Meanwhile, alleging that the administration delayed in initiating a rescue operation, a group of people from Shantipur, set on several boats, trawlers and launches on fire. The policemen had to resort to firing teargas shells, rubber bullets to disperse the violent protesters.

The situation is normal now. It is under control. Nobody has been injured in police action. 

Sheesh Ram Jhajharia, Superintendent, Nadia District