SEARCH and rescue operations following a boat capsize in Bihar’s Vaishali district ended on Wednesday, as the toll in the accident a day ago remained unchanged at 13, while six were fished out of the Ganga waters alive, an official said. All the deceased were below 15 years of age, including nine girls. Three among the dead were sisters aged between 10 and 13 years. The boat was carrying nearly 20 people from Rampur Shyamchand village, who were travelling to a nearby area to attend a feast on Tuesday night.

 

Although it was a private boat hired by villagers for the ride, show cause notices have been issued to the SHO of Raghopur police station and the Circle Officer concerned for failure to prevent so many children from undertaking a dangerous journey in the middle of the night. Union Minister Chirag Paswan and Bihar Deputy CM Bijendra Prasad Yadav met the families of the victims. “We have recovered 13 bodies, all of children below 15 years of age. Six others, four of them minors, have been admitted to a hospital where their condition is said to be stable,” the district magistrate told PTI.