Bihar Boat Tragedy: 13 Feared Dead After Boat Capsizes in Ganga in Vaishali

A major boat accident in Bihar's Vaishali district has reportedly claimed 10 lives after a vessel carrying around 20 children and young men capsized in the Ganga. SDRF teams and local divers have joined the rescue operation near Rampur Shyamchand village.

Post Published By: Aditya Wadhawan

Updated : 14 October 2026, 2:23 AM IST

Rescue operations are underway after a boat reportedly carrying around 20 children and young men capsized in the Ganga near Rampur Shyamchand village in Bihar's Vaishali district. Preliminary reports say 10 people have died. (Image: X)

Vaishali (Bihar):  Thirteen people have been reportedly dead in Bihar's Vaishali district following the capsizing of a boat carrying around 20 people in the Ganga River on Tuesday. Rescue operations are ongoing to save as many people possible.  The boat was carrying children and young men which capsized in the Ganga River near Rampur Shyamchand village in Vaishali district, leaving at least 10 people dead, according to preliminary reports.

The incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Raghopur police station as those aboard were reportedly travelling to attend a feast in a nearby area. The accident triggered panic among local residents, while families of those on the boat were left devastated. Initial information suggests that the vessel may have been carrying more passengers than its capacity. The boat reportedly lost its balance amid the strong river current before overturning, throwing passengers into the water.

"The news of the innocent lives lost in the boat accident in Raghopur, Vaishali, is extremely heartbreaking and soul-wrenching. In this difficult time, my deepest condolences are with the bereaved families," wrote Samrat Choudhary on X.

वैशाली के राघोपुर में नाव हादसे में मासूमों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद और हृदयविदारक है। इस कठिन समय में मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं शोकाकुल परिजनों के साथ हैं।

​ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति दें एवं परिजनों को यह भारी दुःख सहने की शक्ति प्रदान करें।

​राज्य सरकार की ओर से मृतकों के परिजनों को ₹4-4 लाख की आर्थिक सहायता (अनुग्रह राशि) दी जाएगी। प्रशासन को राहत-बचाव कार्य तेजी से पूरा करने और घायलों के बेहतर इलाज के निर्देश दिए गए हैं।

​ॐ शांति! 🙏

— Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) October 13, 2026

Boat Capsizes While Passengers Were Heading to a Feast

According to preliminary accounts, around 20 children and young men from the village were travelling by boat to attend a community feast when the vessel overturned in the middle of the river. Witnesses reportedly said the incident unfolded suddenly, leaving passengers with little time to react. As news of the accident spread, local residents rushed to the riverbank and began looking for people who had gone missing.  A large crowd gathered at the spot as efforts to locate those trapped or missing in the river intensified.

SDRF and Local Divers Join Rescue Operation

Police and administrative officials reached the scene after receiving information about the accident. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was deployed to assist with rescue efforts, while local divers joined the search for missing passengers. Preliminary reports indicate that 10 bodies have been recovered from the river. The formal identification of the deceased was reportedly underway, and the bodies were expected to be sent to a hospital for post-mortem examinations.

Officials were monitoring the situation as search and rescue operations continued.

Families Grieve as Search Efforts Continue

The tragedy has plunged the affected families into mourning. Relatives and residents gathered near the accident site, anxiously awaiting information about those aboard the boat. The suspected overcrowding and strong river currents are among the factors cited in preliminary accounts of the accident. The exact circumstances, the final death toll and the identities of all victims will require official confirmation.

Further updates are awaited as rescue teams continue their efforts in Vaishali's Ganga river area.