India festival boat capsize kills 13 children

An overloaded boat capsized on the Ganges River in eastern India, resulting in the tragic deaths of 13 children en route to a Hindu festival, officials announced on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his grief over the "deeply painful" loss, announcing financial support for the affected families. The boat overturned late Tuesday in Vaishali district, an area in eastern Bihar state.

Rescuers, using mobile phones to locate the victims in the dark, managed to pull out six survivors, including two children in critical condition. Villager Ravi Yadav recounted the harrowing scene, stating, "It was dark when we suddenly heard children screaming and crying for help as the boat capsized." Ramlakhan Rai, another villager, added that the boat was "small" and "not in good condition," with people packed onto a vessel meant for only a few.

The local health center reported that four children and two adults were taken to the district hospital, but all thirteen victims were found unresponsive. Vaishali district magistrate Varsha Singh confirmed that 13 bodies had been recovered, expressing deep sorrow over the devastating incident.