14 School Students, 2 Teachers Dead After Boat Capsizes at Vadodara Lake in Gujarat

At least 16 people –14 students and two teachers — died after a boat capsized in Harni Lake in Gujarat’s Vadodara on Thursday during a school picnic, reported PTI.

“Till now, 14 children and two teachers have died in the tragedy. One student, who was rescued, is undergoing treatment at SSG Hospital,” said an official of the Harni Police Station.

Rescued students were immediately admitted to SSG hospital where a 15-year-old boy, two 15-year-old girls, and two 45-year-old teachers were brought dead. According to the news agency, ANI, at least 10 students are safely evacuated from the lake.

Vadodara district collector A B Gor said there were 27 children on the boat. “We are trying to trace and rescue others,” he said to news agency, PTI, adding that the boat was carrying school students. It was later overturned in Harni Lake in the afternoon and they had no life jackets.

Few local residents rescued some children before the fire brigade personnel reached the spot.

PREZ MURMU EXPRESSES DEEPEST CONDOLENCES

President Droupadi Murmu expresses her sadness over the tragic incident.

PM & STATE GOVT ANNOUNCE EX-GRATIA

Distressed by the loss, PM Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased. Those injured in the incident will be given Rs. 50,000.

While calling it an extremely heartbreaking, the state government has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of the kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 help for the injured.

Gujarat Education Minister Kuber Dindor posted on microblogging site X, “I have just learned that six children died after a boat carrying school students overturned in a lake.” He added that the rescue operations are underway. NDRF and the fire brigade personnel are on the job along with other agencies.

THOSE AT FAULT WILL BE PUNISHED

“Whoever is at fault will be punished. Our priority is to rescue as many children as possible,” said BJP MLA Keyur Rokadiya spoke with a news agency, PTI. 

He added that as per initial information, the boat was carrying more students than its capacity and around 7-8 children have died.

GUJARAT CM ARRIVES AT HARNI LAKE

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel arrived at Harni Lake in Vadodara to review the search and rescue operations.

DISTRAUGHT PARENTS, PUBLIC REACH AT HARNI LAKE

The area around Harni lake on the outskirts of Vadodara in Gujarat was bustling with people, including distressed parents.

“I came here to pick up my son after receiving a call from the school teacher that he was not feeling well. However, I realised he was on the boat. Thankfully, he was rescued by some persons as soon as the boat overturned,” said a man by the lake.

“My daughter was on the boat. She had gone a picnic. She is dead and I am here to claim her body. Who do I hold accountable for this tragedy,” he said crying.

Mukesh Khavdu, a youngster living near the lake, was one of the first responders.

“I was at my shop near Harni lake when the incident took place. When I heard the cries of a teacher for help, I immediately jumped into the water as I know swimming. I rescued four children from the overturned boat” said Khavdu.

(with agencies inputs)