Major accident in Vrindavan: Boat capsizes in Yamuna river, 30 from Punjab fall into water; 10 dead

Mathura (The Uttam Hindu): A major accident occurred on Friday in Mathura when a boat carrying devotees from Ludhiana to Vrindavan capsized in the Yamuna River. Around 30 people were on board at the time of the incident. As the boat overturned, all passengers fell into the river, leading to panic at the scene.

According to eyewitnesses, strong winds caused the boat to lose balance and collide with a pontoon bridge before capsizing. Cries for help were heard as the passengers fell into the water. Local people immediately began rescue efforts and informed the police.

10 dead, 15 rescued, 5 missing

After the incident, police and divers reached the spot and launched a rescue operation. So far, 15 people have been rescued safely, while bodies of 10 victims have been recovered. Five people are still missing, and search operations continued till late night.

Overloading and strong winds blamed

According to officials, the boat was carrying more passengers than its capacity. SDM Ritu Sirohi stated in the preliminary investigation that overloading was the main cause of the accident. Strong winds further worsened the situation, leading to the loss of balance.

Officials reach spot, hospitals on alert

Following the incident, district administration officials rushed to the site. Senior officers, including the District Magistrate, SSP, and DIG, reviewed the situation. Injured persons were immediately taken to hospitals. Authorities placed hospitals on alert and directed free treatment for the injured. District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh said that along with local divers, teams from National Disaster Response Force and the army were deployed for rescue operations to locate the missing persons.

CM Yogi expresses grief

Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the incident. He directed officials to speed up rescue operations and ensure proper medical care and assistance to the injured.

This incident once again highlights serious concerns over safety violations and overloading. Authorities have ordered an investigation into the matter.