New Delhi: A heart-wrenching accident has come to light from Bihar. The scene along the banks of the Ganges in the Raghopur area of Vaishali district is one of wailing and grief that would bring tears to anyone’s eyes. The news of 14 children dying in the Hajipur boat accident plunged the entire region into a sea of sorrow. What made this even more shocking was that 13 of the children belonged to the same family.
The agony of this tragedy moved everyone to tears. Perhaps the most harrowing sight was that of a mother who was inconsolable after losing her children. She was seen clinging to District Magistrate Varsha Singh, weeping bitterly. Her tears reflected not just the grief of losing her children, but also the pain of seeing the shattering of all the hopes a mother attaches to her offspring.
Dreams Shattered in an Instant
Children are a family’s greatest hope. Their playful antics, the anticipation of their return home, sharing meals together, and dreams woven around their future—these elements constitute the very world of a home. When multiple children are lost in a single tragedy, no words or statements can fill the resulting void.
The children had actually gone to attend a Shraddh feast (a ritual meal for ancestors), but their boat capsized suddenly on the return journey. No one could have foreseen such a calamity striking. An eyewitness, Ravi Yadav, recounted that the children had taken a boat to a nearby village.
The children themselves were operating the boat. On the way back, the vessel capsized in the Ganges, and the children fell victim to the accident. The Raghopur area is prone to flooding; in such regions, boats are not merely a means of transport but a daily necessity for many villages.
How did the boat capsize? Now, everyone is wondering how the boat capsized. Suspecting overloading as a possible cause, the SDRF team worked to retrieve the overturned boat from the river during the relief and rescue operations following the accident. Upon inspection, a large hole was found in one section of the boat. Eyewitness Ravi Yadav claimed that the government-provided boat was quite old and dilapidated. According to him, children were on board, and the boat was being operated by children as well.
Locals also confirmed that the boat was very old. Satish Rai, a former MLA from Raghopur and a BJP leader, also highlighted the boat’s dilapidated condition. He noted that the area is flood-prone and the boat had been provided to the village several years ago.
Major Announcement by the Government
Bihar’s Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary has expressed grief over the accident. He announced financial assistance of ₹4 lakh each for the families of the deceased. He directed the administration to expedite relief and rescue operations and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.
