Another boat capsizes in UP, 6 dead

Six people, including two children, drowned in river Ghaghra in Behraich district of Uttar Pradesh early on Saturday, when an overloaded boat capsized in the river.

The incident occurred at 5 am near Pipraghat and six bodies have been recovered so far. About half a dozen others remain missing. A team of the NDRF has been pressed for rescue operations.

According to the survivors, the boat was overloaded and could not bear the weight upon reaching the middle of the river near Lakhabaudi village in Pipraghat. "Suddenly, it developed cracks and overturned. A few, somehow, managed to swim ashore, while those trapped inside the overturned boat drowned," said Ram Lal, a survivor.

Since it was dark, the rescue operation was delayed, resulting in more deaths. District officials, who rushed to the spot, claimed that six bodies including that of two children were recovered and efforts are on to trace those missing.

Ironically, it was the third incident of boat tragedy in Uttar Pradesh in the last 25 days. Earlier, 19 people had drowned in Katha village in Baghpat district. In the second incident three days ago, four girls had drowned in Rohini river in Gorakhpur, the hometown of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The CM expressed deep sorrow over the incident and directed district administration to pay an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the family members of the deceased.